Three days of mourning

WITH condolences coming in from across Europe, the government yesterday announced a three-day mourning period for the 121 people killed in the Helios Airways crash.
An official announcement said: “The government of Cyprus announces that as of tomorrow Monday, August 15, it declares a three-day public mourning for the victims of the air tragedy. Cyprus flags at all government buildings will fly at half mast in memory of the victims.”

Across the divide, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat called President Tassos Papadopoulos to express his deep sorrow and shock at the accident.

President Papadopoulos thanked the Turkish Cypriot leader, who contacted him yesterday afternnon by telephone. Also offering his condolences was the Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Democratic Party Serdar Denktash.

In Greece, condolences have been pouring from party leaders and other high ranking officials. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis offered his deepest condolences to the President, while opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou sent his condolences to President Papadopoulos, the relatives and friends of the victims and the people of Cyprus for the tragedy.

Greece’s Defence Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos also telephoned his Cypriot counterpart Koullis Mavronicolas to express his sadness over what had happened.

From Brussels, European Union Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot expressed his deepest sadness at the loss of life which resulted in the Helios air disaster.

Speaking to AFP, he stated: “My sympathies go out to the families and friends of the victims and all those affected by this tragic event. This latest incident shows that in spite of all that has already been done to improve the safety of Europe’s skies, we must intensify our joint efforts to ensure the very highest safety standards for all Europe’s air passengers and crew.”

Meanwhile all the political parties on the island yesterday issued announcements stating shock and sadness for all the victims who died in yesterday’s air disaster, with the European Party of Cyprus urging that an immediate investigation be launched into why the crash occurred.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.