The representatives agreed to request that the International Civil
Aviation Organization (FICAOI) reopen and complete its investigation
of the KAL 007 tragedy and Russia agreed to give the "Black Box"
tapes to the ICAO. The representatives also agreed to organize a
subsequent meeting in Moscow in January or February for
representatives of the families of KAL 007 victims. The agenda is
to include the disposition of remains and personal effects of
victims, construction of a memorial, memorial services, and
compensation.
On December 18, 1992 the ICAO Council agreed to reopen its
fact-finding investigation. The ICAO Secretary General then invited
representatives of the four countries to a meeting in Paris on
January 8, 1993 at which ICAO explained the investigation procedures
and the Russian government handed over the "Black Box" tapes. The
tapes are now being analyzed by a laboratory in France under ICAO
supervision and ICAO expects to complete its report before the end
of March. End Background.
The following is the transcript of the Position Paper On
Families Issues from the American Association for Families of KAL
007 Victims. Begin Text:
Bodies Of Passengers And Crew
This is a most important issue for all the families of victims of
the KAL 007 tragedy. In order to recover emotionally and to put
this tragedy behind them, families need to know the resting places
of their loved ones.
In virtually all other air disasters over the high seas at least
some human remains were recovered. It seems unlikely that this
incident is the exception, particularly since search and rescue
missions by the Soviet, Japanese and Americans started promptly
after the shootdown occurred.