AUSTRALIA: PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL AND ON DEATH ON NINE AUSTRALIANS IN INDONESIAN HELICOPTER CRASH

Record ID: 208506

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL AND ON DEATH ON NINE AUSTRALIANS IN INDONESIAN HELICOPTER CRASH
  • Date: 3rd April 2005
  • Summary: (W1) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (APRIL 3, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE 0.04 2. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIME MINISTER, JOHN HOWARD SAYING: "First can I on the behalf of all Australians extend my condolences and my respects in relation to the death of his Holiness the Pope. This great man, who has led the Catholic church for 26 years, who has been a pillar of strength as well as a provider of great compassion." 0.38 3. SLV MEDIA LISTENING 0.43 4. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIME MINISTER, JOHN HOWARD SAYING: "It was his commitment to the dignity of the individual and the spirituality of man that was the source of his opposition to Soviet communism. And history will always remember favourably the role he played in supporting the solidarity movement in Poland which led of course to the liberation of that country that was so instrumental in bringing about the end of Soviet imperialism." 1.15 5. WIDE OF HOWARD STANDING AT PRESS CONFERENCE 1.23 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIME MINISTER, JOHN HOWARD SAYING: "I am very sad indeed. It was a very heartbreaking accident this, to have nine young people wiped out doing good for this country. I think it is terrible, I am very upset about it." 1.39 7. SLV PHOTOGRAPHER 1.45 8. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIME MINISTER, JOHN HOWARD SAYING: "This morning just before nine o'clock, President Yudhoyono of Indonesia telephoned me to express his shock and sadness at the loss of the nine lives through the helicopter crash. He was boarding his plane to come to Australia. He said he has instructed the Indonesian military to provide all necessary assistance in relation to those who had been killed, and I know that he shares the sense of loss and grief at this very tragic incident and I thank him for his expression of condolences on the behalf of the Indonesian people." 2.30 9. WIDE OF HOWARD STANDING 2.36 10. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIME MINISTER, JOHN HOWARD SAYING: "The mission of mercy, the mission of help in Indonesia will go on. It is important that Australia continue to continue its humanitarian role in Indonesia." 2.50 11. WIDE OF HOWARD STANDING 2.56 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Reuters ID: LVAE06K22LGEXGHV783Q7HCFT35N
  • Story Text: Australian Prime Minister John Howard expresses
    condolences on the death of the Pope; says helicopter crash
    in Indonesia is a tragic accident.



    Australian Prime Minister John Howard, brought up in
    a Methodist household, said on Sunday (April 3) the Pope
    had both tremendous strength and compassion and believed in
    human freedom and dignity.

    "First can I, on the behalf of all Australians extend
    my condolences and my respects in relation to the death of
    his Holiness the Pope. This great man, who has led the
    Catholic church for 26 years, who has been a pillar of
    strength as well as a provider of great compassion," Prime
    Minister John Howard said.

    Australia has about five million Roman Catholics, the
    nation's largest religious group.

    "It was his commitment to the dignity of the individual
    and the spirituality of man that was the source of his
    opposition to Soviet communism. And history will always
    remember favourably the role he played in supporting the
    solidarity movement in Poland which led of course to the
    liberation of that country that was so instrumental in
    bringing about the end of Soviet imperialism."
    Howard was also mourning the death of nine Australian
    military personnel in a navy helicopter crash on an aid
    mission to the earthquake-hit Indonesian island of Nias.

    "I am very sad indeed. It was a very heartbreaking
    accident this, to have nine young people wiped out doing
    good for this country. I think it is terrible, I am very
    upset about it," Howard said.

    The crash in rugged terrain near the Nias capital of
    Gunungsitoli late on Saturday (April 2) is Australia's
    worst post-Vietnam War operational loss of military
    personnel.

    "This morning just before nine o'clock, President
    Yudhoyono of Indonesia telephone me to express his shock
    and sadness at the loss of the nine lives through the
    helicopter crash. He was boarding his plane to come to
    Australia. He said he has instructed the Indonesian
    military to provide all necessary assistance in relation to
    those who had been killed, and I know that he shares the
    sense of loss and grief at this very tragic incident and I
    thank him for his expression of condolence on the behalf of
    the Indonesian people," Howard said.

    The Sea King helicopter, from the Australian navy
    amphibious transport ship HMAS Kanimbla, was carrying an
    emergency medical team sent to help quake victims.

    He said a second Sea King from the Kanimbla had flown
    over the crash site and reported seeing the first
    helicopter "in flames".

    Howard pledged to continue the aid mission to Indonesia
    despite the crash.

    "The mission of mercy, the mission of help in Indonesia
    will go on. It is important that Australia continue to
    continue its humanitarian role in Indonesia."
    Two other unidentified personnel were recovered alive
    from the crash and were being treated on board the Kanimbla.



  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register