"A Russian plane has arrived carrying 41 experts while another one will arrive tomorrow carrying investigation equipment," Indonesian minister of transportation EE Mangindaan said at a press conference at the Media Center at Halim Perdanakusuma airport here on Friday.
He said the arrival of the team followed the cooperation agreement made by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Russian President Vladimir Putin for the investigation of the incident.
He said the Russian team would cooperate with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the National Committee for Transportation Safety (KNKT).
"In essence the Indonesian team would lead the investigation while the Russian team will help," he said.
The minister said the results of the investigation that would be used to show the cause of the incident especially the black box that records aircraft conditions and conversations before and after flight which would be the main evidence would all be processed in Indonesia.
"I can assure that they will all be processed in Indonesia. Russia will only assure that the process is transparent," he said.
Russian deputy trade minister Yury Slyusar that led the Russian investigation team said he had met with BASARNAS and KNKT officials to discuss work program and distribution.
"Starting tomorrow we hope the team (Russian team) will have been able to work at the location," he said.
He said the plane that would arrive tomorrow would carry investigation equipment. "I hope this cooperation will run well and produce transparent and accurate results."
(SYS/H-YH/A014)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
