Minister to discuss setting up of rescue training center in Vologda

MOSCOW, June 21 () - Russian Emergency Situations Minister
Sergei Shoigu will visit the Vologda region on Saturday, where he will
discuss issues of setting up the federal rescue training center Vytegra, an official told Itar-Tass.

"Today, Sergei Shoigu will chair a conference with emergency and
regional government officials, at which the issue of setting up the
Vytegra rescue center on Lake Onega will be discussed," a representative
of the Emergency Situations Ministry said.

He specified that in February 2008, the Emergency Situations Ministry
and the Vologda region administration approved a joint plan of events to
set up a center which will annually train some 400 rescuers.

"It is planned to carry out all the necessary preparations this year,
and begin main construction in 2009. An educational building, a dormitory
for 40 places, three residential houses, a research-technical laboratory
for testing small-tonnage vessels, a large pier, a helicopter pad, a sport
complex and other facilities with a total area of 9,000 square meters will
be build on Lake Onega within two years," the representative said.

The Center will ensure safety on the Volga-Baltic stretch in the
territory of the Northwestern Federal District.

In addition, it will respond to emergencies on Lake Onega and Lake
Ladoga.

Sergei Shoigu will also attend the opening of a new sport complex in
the village of Sheksna, within the framework of his working trip.