TNAG-2856-FCO40-4109-Hong-Kong-compensation-claim-regarding-Korean-Air-Lines-Flig-1993 — Page 46

UNCLASSIFIED

(35)

060571

186/1

MDTTAN 6737

RECENS

ESTRY

1993

UNCLASSIFIED

FM MOSCOW

TO TELELETTER FCO

TELELETTER

OF 15055OZ JULY 93

DESK C

INDLX

REGISTRY

PA pation Taken

INFO TELELETTER SEOUL, WASHINGTON, HONG KONG, UKDEL ICAO MONTREAL

FROM W L EGERTON

TO MICHAEL HANCOCK ESQ, EASTERN DEPARTMENT, FCO

CC

S. LOVETT ESQ, AMD, FCO

J. MARSHALL ESQ, HKD, FCO

D. EVANS ESQ, UKDEL ICAO, MONTREAL

MS CATHERINE JAMES, CONSULAR DEPT, FCO

CHANCERIES

HONG KONG

SEOUL WASHINGTON

ра

KAL 007

SUMMARY

1. RUSSIAN MFA DENY RECEIVING SOUTH KOREAN DEMAND FOR COMPENSATION, AND DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY BLAMING KAL IN THE PROCESS.

DETAIL

2.

LAST WEEK TASS REPORTED FROM SEOUL THAT THE SOUTH KOREANS WOULD BE PRESENTING A CLAIM TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION FOR COMPENSATION FOR THE SHOOTING DOWN OF KAL 007. ON 8 JULY RUSSIAN MFA SPOKESMAN YASTRZHEMBSKY SAID THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT HAD RECEIVED NO SUCH DEMAND FOR COMPENSATION. HE CATEGORISED THE KAL 007 INCIDENT AS 'THE EXTREME RESULT OF THE COLD WAR. WHEREAS THE RUSSIANS FELT GRIEF AT THE LOSS OF LIFE, THEY WERE CONVINCED THAT SUCH AN INCIDENT WOULD NOT BE REPEATED.

3.

-

BUT

YASTRZHEMBSKY ADDED THAT THE NEW RUSSIA COULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE SOVIET UNION. RUSSIA WOULD AIM FOR A SOLUTION TO THE HUMANITARIAN SIDE OF THE PROBLEM IE EXPLANATIONS OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONSTRUCTION OF MEMORIALS. ON COMPENSATION HE SAID THAT SUCH ISSUES WERE NORMALLY SETTLED BETWEEN THE AIRLINE AND THE RELATIONS OF THE DECEASED PASSENGERS.

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