“My thoughts are with our French friends”
The Prime Minister in Belgium’s caretaker federal government Charles Michel (Francophone liberal) has expressed his support for France and the French people in the wake of the fire at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris.
In a message posted on the social media platform Twitter, an emotional Mr Michel wrote “Victor Hugo, Notre Dame part of the history of France and of Europe. My thoughts are with our French friends”.
The Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders (Francophone liberal) also reacted to the news of the devastating fire at the cathedral by way of a post onTwitter.
"It is sad to see such a piece of the world’s heritage go up in flames. We show solidarity with our French friends and the Fire Service”, Mr Reynders wrote.
Flags half-mast
Meanwhile, Belgium’s Royal Museums of Fine Arts have decided to fly their flags half-mast. In a press statement released on Tuesday morning, the museums’ press attaché wrote "Every day our institution works for the cultural heritage that shows humanity at its best. Every act of destruction even if it is accidental is a loss that we feel deep in our hearts. With this gesture we want to show our solidarity with those that work every day to protect our cultural heritage. In France and in the whole world”.
Those in charge of the museums also expressed gratitude to fire-fighters and the police services in Paris “that contributed to saving Notre-Dame”.