Today's Date:

Letter of condolences from Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, to Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, following the explosion in the Ulyanovskaya coal mine and the fire in the Kamyshevatskaya retirement home

President Putin, [handwritten:] Dear Vladimir,

I was extremely shocked to learn of the explosion in the Ulyanovskaya coal mine in Siberia and the fire in the Kamyshevatskaya retirement home in the Krasnodar region, which killed dozens of your compatriots.

On this day of national mourning, I wanted to extend to you and to the bereaved my most heartfelt condolences and ask you to convey to the injured my wishes for a speedy recovery.

In these tragic circumstances, I should also like to express to the Russian people France's wholehearted solidarity.

(complimentary close, with handwritten addition)./.