DATE=8/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA SUB (L UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-265773
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised
compensation to relatives of the 118 sailors who died
aboard the Kursk nuclear submarine more than a week
ago. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from Moscow
that Russians are observing a national day of
mourning.
TEXT:
///SOUND OF CHURCH SERVICE AND FADE///
Special church services are being held to remember the
sailors of the Kursk submarine. Flags are flying at
half-mast. Regular T-V and radio programs have taken
on a somber tone as Russians observe a national day of
mourning.
A special government commission set up to help the
families now has approved a compensation of about
seven thousand dollars for each family -- the
equivalent of about ten years of pay.
Several private charities have been collecting
donations for the families too.
On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin flew to the
nuclear fleet's home port to meet with relatives of
the 118 Kursk crewmen, his first trip there since the
accident.
T-V footage of the meeting, which lasted into the
early hours of Wednesday morning, shows a noisy
confrontation. Russia's leadership has come under
public criticism for its handling of the crisis.
President Putin was expected to fly out to a ship at
the accident site and lay a wreath on the water but
the trip was cancelled. Instead, he flew back to the
capital, apparently after the Kursk families urged him
to postpone any official mourning ceremony until the
bodies of the crew have been recovered.
Russia has asked Norway for help to recover bodies
from the sunken Kursk and to salvage the wreckage.
(Signed)
NEB/LMK/GE
23-Aug-2000 07:50 AM LOC (23-Aug-2000 1150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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