- Target:
- Australian Government and governments of countries that have lost citizens on MH17
- Region:
- GLOBAL
- Website:
- interpol.einnews.com
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously backed an Australian-sponsored resolution over the downing of MH17, with Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop condemning the "grotesque violations" at the crash site.
Russia backed the resolution at the eleventh hour after some changes were made to the text, including the characterisation of the incident as "the downing" of Malaysia Airlines MH17 rather than the "shooting down".
The resolution puts in place an international, independent investigation into the plane crash and puts more pressure on Moscow to use its influence over the separatists.
The vote came as a train carrying the remains of most of the 298 victims of the tragedy left the crash site en route to the Ukrainian city of Kharkov, and pro-Russian separatists handed the aircraft's black boxes over to Malaysian investigators in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
A ceasefire has also been declared within a 10-kilometre radius around the crash site, to allow international investigators to safely access the area.
The message from this council to those who were responsible for this atrocity is definitive: you will be held to account for your actions.
Ms Bishop told the UN Security Council that the jet's downing was an "outrage", and described the vote as "an unambiguous response from the international community to an utterly deplorable act".
"Our nation mourns the death of all the victims. I cannot begin to fathom the pain and anguish their families feel," Ms Bishop said.
She said that rebels hampering recovery efforts at the crash site "demanded a response".
"This is why Australia has brought this resolution to the Security Council. The Security Council has responded," she said.
"The victims must be treated with dignity."
The UN resolution demands that "safe, secure, full and unrestricted access to the crash site be provided so the investigating authorities can carry out their work".
"It is despicable that this access is not being provided. It is an affront to the victims and their families," Ms Bishop said.
"All states, armed groups - everyone must cooperate with the investigation.
"The message from this council to those who were responsible for this atrocity is definitive: you will be held to account for your actions.
"We have an overriding objective, to ensure dignity, respect, and justice for those killed on MH17."
We the undersigned ask that Russia and pro-Russian separatists comply fully and immediately with UN Security Council Resolution 2166 to enable investigators to work on the site with unfettered access to the crash and witnesses.
"The full text of resolution 2166 (2014) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Deploring the downing of a civilian aircraft on an international flight, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, on 17 July in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, with the loss of all 298 passengers and crew on board,
“Reaffirming the rules of international law that prohibit acts of violence that pose a threat to the safety of international civil aviation and emphasizing the importance of holding those responsible for violations of these rules to account,
“Recalling its press statement of 18 July 2014,
“Stressing the need for a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines, noting in this regard the crucial role played by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in aircraft accident and incident investigations, and welcoming the decision by ICAO to send a team to work in coordination with the Ukrainian National Bureau of Incidents and Accidents Investigation of Civil Aircraft in this investigation, following a request for assistance by Ukraine to ICAO and others,
“Expressing serious concern that armed groups in Ukraine have impeded immediate, safe, secure and unrestricted access to the crash site and the surrounding area for the appropriate investigating authorities, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and representatives of other relevant international organizations assisting the investigation in accordance with ICAO and other established procedures,
“1. Condemns in the strongest terms the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on 17 July in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine resulting in the tragic loss of 298 lives;
“2. Reiterates its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims of this incident and to the people and governments of the victims’ countries of origin;
“3. Supports efforts to establish a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines;
“4. Recognizes the efforts under way by Ukraine, working in coordination with ICAO and other international experts and organizations, including representatives of States of Occurrence, Registry, Operator, Design and Manufacture, as well as States who have lost nationals on MH17, to institute an international investigation of the incident, and calls on all States to provide any requested assistance to civil and criminal investigations related to this incident;
“5. Expresses grave concern at reports of insufficient and limited access to the crash site;
“6. Demands that the armed groups in control of the crash site and the surrounding area refrain from any actions that may compromise the integrity of the crash site, including by refraining from destroying, moving, or disturbing wreckage, equipment, debris, personal belongings, or remains, and immediately provide safe, secure, full and unrestricted access to the site and surrounding area for the appropriate investigating authorities, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and representatives of other relevant international organizations according to ICAO and other established procedures;
“7. Demands that all military activities, including by armed groups, be immediately ceased in the immediate area surrounding the crash site to allow for security and safety of the international investigation;
“8. Insists on the dignified, respectful and professional treatment and recovery of the bodies of the victims, and calls upon all parties to ensure that this happens with immediate effect;
“9. Calls on all States and actors in the region to cooperate fully in relation to the international investigation of the incident, including with respect to immediate and unrestricted access to the crash site as referred to in paragraph 6;
“10. Welcomes in this regard the statement on 17 July 2014 by the Trilateral Contact Group of senior representatives of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the OSCE and demands that the commitments outlined in that statement be implemented in full;
“11. Demands that those responsible for this incident be held to account and that all States cooperate fully with efforts to establish accountability;
“12. Urges all parties to the Convention on International Civil Aviation to observe to the fullest extent applicable, the international rules, standards and practices concerning the safety of civil aviation, in order to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, and demands that all States and other actors refrain from acts of violence directed against civilian aircraft;
“13. Welcomes the full cooperation of the United Nations offered by the Secretary-General in this investigation, and requests the Secretary-General to identify possible options for United Nations support to the investigation and to report to the Security Council on relevant developments;
“14. Decides to remain seized of the matter.”
- source http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2014/sc11483.doc.htm
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The Secure the MH17 crash site petition to Australian Government and governments of countries that have lost citizens on MH17 was written by Lance Stewart and is in the category Justice at GoPetition.