WORLD LEADERS OFFER CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT JOKOWI OVER AIRASIA CRASH by Fardah

     Jakarta, Jan 1, 2015 (Antara) - Following the discovery of bodies and debris of AirAsia flight QZ8501 in Java Sea, several world leaders, including from Malaysia, Iran, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and Russia, have offered condolences to Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

         The Indonesia AirAsia Airbus A320-200 lost contact with air traffic control over the Java Sea early Sunday (Dec. 28) morning, shortly after taking off from Juanda International Airport, Surabaya, East Java province, en route to Singapore.

         The ill-fated plane had 155 Indonesians, three South Koreans, a Malaysian, a Singaporean, a British, and a French national on board.

         "The government representing all Malaysians expresses its sadness and condolences to the families of the victims of the tragedy, although some have yet to be found," Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

         Najib hoped that the search mission will be continued and appealed to the families of the victims to come to terms with the tragedy.

         Leaders of another neighboring country,  Singapore,  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan Keng also expressed grief and condolences to the families and loved ones of the 162 people on board the commercial jet that abruptly went off radar screens in its flight from Surabaya, East Java, to Singapore, on Dec. 28, 2014.

         In separate letters to President Jokowi, Dr Tan and Lee said they were "shocked" and "saddened" to hear about the crash, the Straits Times reported. They also pledged solidarity with Indonesia during this period.

         Dr Tan remarked that as close neighbors, Singapore and Indonesia had weathered crises together and will "continue to support one another during this difficult time", the Singaporean daily wrote.

         "Singapore stands in solidarity with Indonesia during this difficult time. We will continue to work closely with Indonesia in the recovery operation and provide further assistance that may be required,'' according to Lee's statement.

         Both leaders also emphasized that Singapore will work with Indonesia in the recovery efforts and give any further assistance that may be required.

         Others Singaporean officials who also wrote to Indonesian counterparts offering condolences and Singapore's help in the search and recovery efforts were Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam, Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, and Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew, according to the Straits Times.

         Another condolence message came from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who expressed shock on hearing the news of the plane crash, Xinhua reported.

         The president, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed his profound sympathy to Indonesia over the tragic incident. Xi also voiced deep grief for all victims aboard the ill-fated plane and offered sincere condolences to their families.

         Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah from Brunei, another neighboring country of Indonesia, also extended his condolences in a message to Jokowi.

         "His Majesty, as well as the government and people of Brunei, extend their deepest condolences and sympathies to the president, government and people of Indonesia, especially to the families of the victims," The Brunei Times said, quoting the Brunei leader on Dec. 31, 2014.

         In the message sent on Tuesday, the monarch stated that he was deeply saddened by the news of the crashed flight, which departed from Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday and was headed to Singapore.

         "His Majesty hopes that the families of the victims are able to face this tragedy with patience and fortitude and prays that Allah, glorified and exalted is He, blesses the souls of the victims," The Brunei Times reported.

         IRNA News Agency reported that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condoled and sympathized with his Indonesian counterpart and nation in a condolence message on Dec. 30 following the tragic crash.

         "In this blessed month in which the Grand Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was born, I hereby also pray for the salvation of the souls of the sad incident's victims and great patience for their bereaved family members," President Rouhani stated, wishing President Widodo and the great Indonesian nation, good health, success, well-being, and development.

         France, whose citizen was aboard the ill-fated plane, also sent condolences to Indonesian authorities.

         French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius expressed his condolences to the Indonesian government and people and also offered his sympathies to the family of the French co-pilot Remi Plesel, one of the 162 victims, Xinhua reported.

         Speaking with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, Fabius said Paris proposed to send domestic experts to help with the investigations into the crash, adding that two national investigators from French accident investigation agency BEA flew to Jakarta on Dec. 29 to take part in the investigation.

         Also from the European continent, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences to Jokowi.

         "We share the grief of those who lost their near and dear ones in this catastrophe," Putin was quoted by Itar-TASS as saying in a statement posted on the Kremlin official website.

         In the meantime, KAZINFORM news agency quoted the press service of Akorsa as reporting that Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev sent a condolence message to his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, over the crash of the AirAsia jetliner.

         The message noted that Nazarbayev was deeply saddened by the news of the recent plane crash, which claimed the lives of several Indonesian citizens.

         On behalf of the government and people of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev conveyed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

         The BelTA news service of Belarus also reported that President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko had extended his condolences to President Joko Widodo and the relatives and friends of the victims of the AirAsia plane crash
    "It is with great pain and sorrow that the people in Belarus have learnt about the news of this tragic event," the message of condolence read, according to BelTA, which quoted the presidential press service.

         AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes, who has been in Surabaya since the news broke out about the accident, tweeted: "My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ8501. On behalf of AirAsia, my condolences to all. Words cannot express how sorry I am."
    Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, the United States, China, India, South Korea, and Britain have lent assistance in searching for the missing plane and any investigation regarding the accident.

         The latest assistance came from Japan, as reported by the Japanese Embassy's Charge de Affairs to Indonesia Yusuke Shindo during a press briefing here on Dec. 31.

         Two vessels of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), named Takanami and Onami, had docked in Klang Port, Malaysia, and were ready to enter Indonesian waters, he revealed.

         The two vessels carried a total of some four hundred personnel on board, along with helicopters, including two SH-60Ks on Takanami and a SH-60J on Onami.

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