Zelensky, Trudeau agree on further joint efforts related to plane crash near Tehran
KYIV. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have discussed the crash of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA)' flight in Tehran during their third phone call made in the recent period; Trudeau has thanked Zelensky for his efforts to ensure access to the scene of the tragedy for Canadian experts.
"Justin Trudeau asked for Volodymyr Zelenskyy's assistance in dialogue with the Iranian authorities as regards the identification of the bodies of the victims, including Canadian citizens," the Ukrainian presidential press service said in a statement on Tuesday night.
The president commended the involvement of Canada's representatives in the investigation.
"Ukrainian experts and diplomats are ready to fully assist Canadian counterparts in Tehran," Volodymyr Zelensky stressed and reiterated willingness to provide logistical assistance in returning the remnants of the bodies of Canadian citizens to Canada after the completion of the necessary formal procedures in Iran," the statement said.
The interlocutors supported further coordination of efforts to ensure proper international legal liability of those responsible for the plane crash.
"Volodymyr Zelensky and Justin Trudeau look forward to the constructive work of a coordination and response group led by foreign ministers of countries whose citizens were killed in a disaster. The group will meet on January 16 in London. In this context, the parties stressed the importance of developing an algorithm to prevent such tragedies in the future," the statement said.
The Ukrainian president and the Canadian prime minister expressed hope for further cooperation and exchange of information pertaining to the plane crash inquiry, in particular in interaction with Iran.