President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis pays tribute to victims of the Sierre coach accident
Bern, 13.03.2022 - Around 150 relatives of the victims of the tragic coach accident in Sierre took part in a commemoration ceremony today alongside the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, and official representatives from Belgium, the Netherlands and the Canton of Valais. The tragic accident, which occurred ten years ago to this day, cost the lives of 28 people, including 22 Belgian and Dutch children. A commemorative plaque was unveiled today at the memorial site on the shores of Lake Géronde.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Dutch Minister of State Piet Hein Donner, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis and representatives of the governments of the Canton of Valais and the City of Sierre paid tribute to the victims and expressed their support for their families.
"13 March 2012 forever changed the lives of the 28 victims. The tragic accident that occurred that day left the people of Belgium, the Netherlands and all of Switzerland – especially in the canton of Valais – shaken to the core and united in grief with the families.
Ten years on, we have not forgotten," said Cassis. Representatives of the Swiss, Belgian, Dutch and Valais authorities then laid wreaths at the Géronde memorial to the victims of the accident.
On the margins of the commemoration ceremony, Mr Cassis and Mr De Croo also held a bilateral meeting to discuss the Russian military attack against Ukraine, efforts to deliver aid to the people of Ukraine, European security policy and Switzerland's relations with the European Union and its member states.
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