TRABZON - Spain and Ukraine sent messages to Trabzon Municipality on Tuesday to thank officials for their sincere efforts after last month's plane crash.
Releasing a statement, Trabzon Municipality said, ''Spain and Ukraine sent messages to our municipality to thank Turkish officials for their efforts to recover, protect and transport bodies of Spanish soldiers and Ukrainian crew members who lost their lives in the plane crash in Koskina hamlet in Sahinkaya region in Macka town of Trabzon on May 26.''
In his letter to Trabzon Municipality, Spanish Consul General in Istanbul Raimundo Ezguerra Guerena said, ''we thank Turkish officials for their sincere support and solidarity during the plane crash which claimed lives of 62 Spanish soldiers.''
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Ambassador Ilhor Dolhuv said, ''I want to thank you for your close interest and assistance. Turkey and residents in Trabzon have proved that they were our friends by supporting Ukraine in its difficult days.''
Trabzon Mayor Niyazi Surmen said in his part that they tried to do their utmost.
The Ukrainian plane crashed near Macka town of Trabzon on May 26, 2003. The plane, which was flying from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to Zaragoza, Spain, with a refueling stop in Trabzon airport, split into two. There were 62 passengers all of whom were Spanish peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan and 13 crew members aboard the plane.
(UK-AÖ) 24.06.2003