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012106
MDTTAN 9841
DAMAGES: A GROUP OF SIX AND TWO MFA OFFICIALS WOULD ATTEND THE MEMORIAL CEREMONY ON SAKHALIN ON 1 SEPTEMBER AND MIGHT MAKE THEIR CLAIM THEN. THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WOULD SUPPORT ANY CLAIM THEIR FAMILIES ASSOCIATION MADE.
7.
THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY TOLD US THEY HAD AN OUTSTANDING CLAIM FOR A FAMILY OF 3 LOST ON THE FLIGHT. THEY WERE NOT CONFIDENT THAT THE PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY FILATOV ON 30 AUGUST GAVE THE FAMILIES ANY ROOM FOR HOPE. BUT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS THE
RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES.
COMMENT
8.
THE AMERICANS' UNWILLINGNESS TO ACT JOINTLY REFLECTS THEIR CONCERN THAT SOME OF THE GROUPS MIGHT NOT BE PREPARED TO HOLD OUT FOR A 'GOOD SETTLEMENT. BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THAT THE COMPENSATION
ISSUE WILL RUN ON INDEFINITELY. A NEXT STEP MIGHT BE FOR
INTERESTED GOVERNMENTS TO AGREE TO ACT ACCORDING TO A SHARED LINE
BUT SEPARATELY.
9.
FILATOV'S LINE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS PREDICTABLE. HE INCLUDED IN HIS PRESENTATION DETAILED MAPS WHICH SHOWED THAT KAL007 WAS RADICALLY OFF COURSE WHEN IT WAS EVENTUALLY SHOT DOWN. COMPENSATION WAS RAISED BY JOURNALISTS ONLY AT THE END OF THE (WELL ATTENDED) PRESS CONFERENCE, THE MATTER HAVING BEEN STUDIOUSLY AVOIDED BY THE RUSSIANS THROUGHOUT.
SIGNED..W.L.EGERTON
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