Senate honours MH17 victims

The Dutch Senate yesterday honored the victims of flight MH17 during the first meeting of the new parliamentary year. A minute of silence followed speeches from Senate president Broekers-Knol and Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the NOS reports. "There followed a wave of horror when it became clear that the unthinkable occurred. That all passengers lost their lives. Since then, out country has been plunged in deep mourning", said Broekers-Knol. The Senate not only remembered the 298 passengers and crew, including 196 Dutch passengers, but also one of their own. PvdA Senator Willem Witteveen was killed in the crash, along with his wife and daughter. "Among the victims was also our all-around loved and respected colleague Willem Witteveen. With that, our Senate also became an environment where a great loss was felt directly and close by", the Senate president described Witteveen as a thoughtful, reasonable and sincere man. Rutte spoke of the intensely tragic and bizarre twist of fate that caused this man to, together with his wife and daughter, become a victim of an entirely unjustified deed. Furthermore, the Prime Minister expressed his pride in the country for the manner in which she handled the tragedy. "I am proud of the concern and solidarity that ruled the country after the tragedy, which is palpable even today." Parliament honored the MH17 victims last week. A national commemoration will be held on the 10th of November, at the RAI in Amsterdam. Members of Parliament as well as surviving relatives will be present.