Background:
The state visit of the Queen and Prince of November 17-19 1997 to Egypt continues. During this state visit, terrorists killed around 60 tourists in Luxor. Dutch tourists David van der Meulen and Saskia van der Mast were lucky enough not to be on the site of the massacre, as their bus was too late. They were however, able to hear the gunshots. Later during the state visit, queen Beatrix met with David and Saskia to speak about the attack in Luxor.
For more information, please refer to the preceding tape: State visit by the Dutch Royal Family to Egypt I:
http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/state-visit-dutch-queen-beatrix-and-he...
Side A:
The press conference from tape 1 continues. The weather conditions of Egypt are mentioned, as well as potential floods. After the press conference, two Dutch tourists, Saskia van der Mast and David van der Meulen, are being interviewed about the terrorist attack in Luxor. He says he saw taxis being confiscated so that wounded people could be transported. They had to take refuge in a tomb for four hours. They could hear the shootings. The group of tourists they were with all survived, and most of them flew back to their home countries. The two will fly back to the Netherlands as well, to reassess if they still want to continue their journey.
An interview followed. The interviewee says the Queen and Prince were moved by the attack in Luxor, but the schedule of the state visit would not be changed. Travel advice by Foreign Affairs might be changed. At the end of the tape, there is a report on the queen’s visit to the Gizah pyramids.
Side B:
The queen has given several musical instruments to an orchestra of blind girls. The orchestra travels around the world and makes money for their school, called ‘Light and Hope’, that way. A concert follows.
