News

Lithuania and Poland will cooperate in aviation and maritime search and rescue

Today Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications, Eligijus Masiulis, and Polish Minister of Infrastructure, Cezary Grabarczyk, signed a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in aviation and maritime search and rescue.

"Timely help provided to a person stricken by disaster is of vital importance. Such actions should not be depending on frontiers of countries. By signing this agreement we ensure the cooperation of Lithuanian and Polish search and rescue services, also the exchange of information in this field, as well as all possible mutual assistance" - said Eligijus Masiulis, Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications.

Parties undertook obligations of cooperation in search and rescue operations in air, inland waters, territorial waters and air space above the territorial maritime area.

It has been agreed that aviation and maritime search and rescue services of both countries will inform each other on the emerging dangers and threats for human lives or craft crashes, and upon receiving from other country a request for help the contracting party will provide all possible support, and both countries will provide information on rescued or found missing people.  

Help will be provided to any person in danger or threatened by danger, disregarding nationality, status or circumstances, in which the person may be found.

For strengthening of cooperation in search and rescue, parties foresee common training, regular cross border inspection of communication channels, mutual visits of search and rescue experts for maintaining closer relations, exchange of experience and search and rescue information received by services of both countries.    

For practical implementation of this agreement there will be signed yet another agreement on Operational actions regarding search and rescue activities. 

Dalia Perednienė

Chief Specialist of Communications Division

2009-10-19