ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION VLADIMIR PUTIN

Vladimir Putin: Let's start with Moscow. Our Polish friends have arrived, led by Prime Minister Tusk. Please report on how the work is going.

Pyotr Biryukov (First Deputy Mayor of Moscow) Mr Putin, everything has been organised in Moscow. Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has personally headed up the staff. The staff includes experts in all relevant fields.

Medical personnel and psychologists are stationed at all airports. Transport has been provided - each airport has three buses and six cars. The same goes for Belorsussky Vokzal and the hotels where Polish citizens will be staying.

We have a total of 450 beds at the Renaissance Hotel, the hotel on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment and others. Expert translators from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be provided upon request. A team of translators has been assembled and we have asked ordinary citizens who know Polish to help - we have some working with us.

A hotline has been set up through the city government - two phone numbers are up on tickers on TV channels. Medical assistance is available everywhere.

The morgue where the victims' bodies will be held is ready. Experts and forensic scientists are standing by. All necessary support is in place.

Moscow will bear all of the expenses for accommodating visitors from Poland, including room, board, medical care and transport.

There will be enough cars for visitors to use upon request. There are buses as well - three buses and about 10 cars for each hotel.

Any and all problems will be dealt with as they arise with the cooperation of the Emergencies Ministry. We have worked through a number of problems. We are ready for any problems that arise. We will carry out the tasks that you assigned, Mr Putin, without a doubt.

That concludes my report.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. What about the airport? I'd like to hear from the task force.

Head of the task force: Right now they are loading the bodies onto cars from a group of cars we have standing by. We have already loaded up six times. The rest of the cars are ready, and everything is going according to plan. That concludes my report.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. And you are aware that the first group of victims' relatives from Poland be arriving today?

Head of the task force: Moscow is ready to receive the first group of victims' relatives arriving from Poland. Transport and hotels are ready. Our experts are standing by. The central administrative board of the Moscow office of the Emergencies Ministry is co-ordinating everything. They are there at the airport.

Vladimir Putin: The first relatives of the victims will arrive as early as tonight. So keep that in mind and be ready. I'd like to hear from the Health Ministry now, please.

Tatiana Golikova: Public health services are ready to render assistance for forensic medical examinations. The first plane of victims that arrived from Smolensk is currently being loaded onto vehicles. And as soon as this is finished, their bodies will be transported to Moscow's Central Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination, which will be the centre of all this work.

The Central Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination has prepared 400 places. Thirty forensic doctors are standing by. There is a mental health service made up of federal agencies, the Emergencies Ministry and the Moscow City Psychological Service.
They will work round-the-clock and for the duration while bodies are being identified. And they will also work with relatives who are just arriving at the Central Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination.

The mental health service at all the hotels where relatives will be staying will work in the exact same way. And there are also psychological and medical services at all the airports where relatives will be arriving.
That concludes my report.

Vladimir Putin: Mrs Golikova, the Polish Prime Minister is here.

Donald Tusk: Do you think Polish psychologists will be necessary?

Vladimir Putin: Experts from Poland will arrive tomorrow. They will be working with you.

Tatiana Golikova: Very good. We have made contacts regarding this issue and we are ready to work alongside our colleagues where necessary.

Vladimir Putin: Meet with them and arrange how you will be working together.

Tatiana Golikova: Alright.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

Donald Tusk: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: All the best, everybody. Thank you. Let's get to work.