DATE=8/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA SUB (L UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-265742
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting
the home base of the navy's Northern Fleet to pay
tribute to 118 sailors who died aboard the nuclear
submarine Kursk. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports
from Moscow that he could face a hostile welcome.
TEXT: President Putin is meeting with some of the
relatives of the sailors who died aboard the submarine
Kursk. He will probably meet some hostility from
relatives who have complained bitterly that the
government did too little too late to save their loved
ones.
It is Mr. Putin's first trip to the nuclear fleet's
home port since the accident 10 days ago. Last
Friday, he told reporters he had wanted to go to the
fleet's headquarters as soon as he heard about the
accident, but decided he did not want to interfere
with the rescue efforts.
Mr. Putin has been heavily criticized for remaining at
a Black Sea resort during the early days of the rescue
mission. Anger has also simmered over the
government's reluctance to accept foreign help.
Norwegian deep-sea divers, who arrived at the accident
site a week after the Kursk sank, managed to open the
rear escape hatch and confirm there were no survivors
because of flooding throughout the submarine.
The rescue teams from Britain and Norway left the area
late Tuesday after a brief ceremony to honor the 118
Russian sailors who died in the Kursk accident.
Norway has agreed to help recover the bodies of the
crew and help salvage the wreck of the nuclear
submarine.
President Putin has declared Wednesday as a national
day of mourning. (Signed)
NEB/LMK/GE/JP
22-Aug-2000 12:14 PM LOC (22-Aug-2000 1614 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
