Five nations reiterate commitment to bring to justice those responsible for MH17 downing

Sunday, July 17, 2016 - 22:00 (EEST) Section: Latest news

The permanent representatives to the UN of Australia, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Malaysia and Ukraine, on behalf of their governments, have issued a joint statement on the second anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on 17 July 2014 in Donbas.
”The countries recalled their full commitment to take effective measures to bring to justice the persons who are responsible, noting the importance of accountability in preventing future attacks on civil aircraft,” the statement reads.
The countries restated their ”deep sympathy and condolences to the families of victims of this tragic event and to all grieving nations”.
The countries recalled the concern expressed by the Security Council in Resolution 2166 (2014) about acts of violence that pose a threat to the safety of international civil aviation.
The five nations also recalled the demand by the UN Security Council that those responsible for this incident be held accountable, reiterated their commitment to achieving that objective, and further recalled the Security Council`s demand that all States cooperate fully with efforts to establish accountability.
”In that regard, the countries noted the independent technical investigation into the cause of the downing by the Dutch Safety Board, that was conducted in full compliance with ICAO Standards, and its report published on 13 October 2015,” the statement reads.
They also noted the ongoing criminal investigation conducted by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
As UNIAN reported earlier, the aircraft was shot down two years ago, July 17, 2014, near the town of Torez in Donetsk region, by the pro-Russian terrorists was shot down Malaysia Airlines aircraft company Boeing-777, flying from Amsterdam – Kuala Lumpur.
The plane was downed by a Buk anti-aircraft missile system. All 298 people on board, including 80 children, were killed in a crash.
Most of the victims – 194 passengers – were Dutch citizens, 38 – the citizens of Australia.
The Dutch Safety Board October 13, 2015 issued a report on the causes of the MH17 crash. It revealed that the passenger jet was shot down by a Buk anti-aircraft missile system.