HC Deb 07 July 1988 vol 136 cc657-8W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Prime Minister whether she will publish in theOfficial Report her public comments made when the Russians shot down a Korean airliner.

The Prime Minister

I sent a message of condolence to President Chun on 2 September 1983. The British representative at the UN made a statement in the Security Council on the same day, a copy of which has been deposited in the Library of the House.

There is no comparison between the Soviet shooting down of KAL007 in September 1983 and the tragic loss of the Iranian airliner on 3 July. This latest incident took place in an area of hostilities where military action was actually taking place and the United States Navy warned the aircraft. In the case of KAL007, no hostilities were taking place and there was no clear evidence that the airliner was warned.

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