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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 29, 2001

Putin Meets Kursk Mission

Russian President Vladimir Putin met here Wednesday with delegates of the Kursk lifting mission and awarded more than 100 of them for their outstanding work over the unique international cooperation.


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Russian President Vladimir Putin met here Wednesday with delegates of the Kursk lifting mission and awarded more than 100 of them for their outstanding work over the unique international cooperation.

During the meeting, Putin praised all involved experts for their joint work as one coherent team and for their mutual understanding.

The most advanced technologies, unique specialists and the safest methods were used in this operation. And each of 3,000 people involved in the operation understood the price even the slightest error on his part could have had, Putin said.

He thanked all participants for their professionalism and courage, and for honestly fulfilling their civil duty.

The President said Russia must learn lessons from the tragedy, pushing forward "a qualitative renovation of the civilian fleets and the navy in order to create conditions for safe service."

Effective search and rescue systems would also be set up, he added.

The Kursk was the first nuclear submarine to be lifted out of more than 200 sunken submarines of different countries, Putin noted.

He said he believed the decision to lift the ill-fated submarine was a correct one even it was strongly opposed at first on technical grounds.

"To us Russians, it was not only a state duty to lift the Kursk, but it was our moral duty in the first place," he said.

"It was Russia's moral duty to the perished sailors, their families and children," he added.




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