"In 2005 two Be-200's will do fire-fighting in Italy and the Mediterranean. Everything is ready: Italian pilots have been trained and a base created for the planes," Mr. Shoigu told reporters after the meeting.
He hopes that cooperation will be "the initial project for promoting Be-200 planes to the European market."
He also said that they discussed the project of creating a European center for combating air crashes and setting up a European plane and helicopter squadron for forest fire fighting in different parts of Europe. Russia is ready to offer its fire-fighting planes Be-200 and heavy helicopters Mi-26 for the purpose.
In turn, Guido Bertolaso noted that in discussion was also the holding of joint operations in emergencies elsewhere in the world.
"We understand the need of setting up more than a country-wide system of civil defense. What we want is cooperation at the European level," Mr. Bertolaso said.
It is crucial as far as nuclear and chemical emergency situations are concerned, he said.
Next summer two Russian Be-200 (made by the Beriev corporation) airplanes of the Emergency Situations Ministry will come to Italy to be based on Sardinia. Croatia has also voiced interest.
