Harper offers condolences on the death of Polish President Kaczynski

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OTTAWA, Ont. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper has expressed his profound sadness over the deaths of Poland’s president, his wife and several senior officials in a plane crash in Russia on Saturday.

Harper said President Lech Kaczynski was a man who stood proudly and defiantly for democracy and human rights through even the most difficult times.

He says his sudden passing is a great loss for his country and for his many friends here in Canada, particularly within the Polish-Canadian community.

The plane was taking Kaczynski, his wife and staff to events marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police.

In all, 97 people were killed in the crash of the 26-year-old Tupolev aircraft.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was scheduled to visit the Ottawa Valley region next week, has cancelled the trip following the crash.

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