JAKARTA. Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Alexander A. Ivanov has said that the nation was “deeply saddened” by the crash of a Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 crash at Mt. Salak in West Java.

Ivanov, speaking through an interpreter at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in East Jakarta on Friday, said that called President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday evening to express his condolences.

"We want to express our deepest condolences to all our brothers and sisters in Indonesia that have been saddened by the accident,” Ivanov said.

He added that Russia believed that the accident should not affect bilateral relations, saying that Russia “hopes trade relations with Indonesia will continue after the plane crash”.

"The cooperation that has been done by the two countries must continue,” he said.

The ambassador told reporters that a Russian team had arrived in Jakarta to investigate the incident and had met with the officials from Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).

Ivanov said that the plane’s black box would be analyzed in Indonesia.

Russia would dispatch 78 experts in two batches to aid in the evacuation of bodies and assist in the investigation, he added.

Ivanov and Transportation Minister EE Mangindaan, who was also at the press conference, conveyed their condolences to relatives of the crash victims.(The Jakarta Post)

Editor: Edy Can