Latvian Foreign Minister extends condolences to families of victims of explosion and fire tragedy in Russia

On 20 March 2007, Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks sent a letter of condolences to his Russian colleague, Sergei Lavrov, expressing his deepest sympathy and support for the families of those injured and killed in the tragedies.

In his letter Minister Pabriks wrote, "Latvia is deeply grieved over the tragedies in Novokuznetsk and Yeysk which took the lives of many people. Latvia mourns together with the Russian people."

On 19 March, more than 100 people were killed in the methane explosion at the Ulyanovsk's coal mine in the Kemerovo region, Russia. This is the most tragic event in Russia's mining industry over the last decade. A day later, the fire in Kuban's old people's home took the lives of more than 60 people.

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