Page 12 - AUA Traveller
P. 12
Russia vetoes RUSSIA has blocked a U.N. Security still “stands ready to cooperate in the conduct
of a full independent and objective investiga-
U.N. tribunal to Council resolution that would have created tion of the reasons and circumstances of the
investigate MH17 an international tribunal to prosecute those crash.”
crash in Ukraine responsible for bringing down Malaysia Air- Russia had earlier indicated that the reso-
lines Flight 17 over Ukraine. lution was too political and didn’t wait for
Russia was alone in the 15-member council the outcome of two investigations currently
in voting Wednesday in New York against underway.
the establishment of the tribunal. Eleven Earlier this month, the Netherlands and
members voted in favor. China, Venezuela four other nations leading the MH17 inqui-
and Angola abstained. ries called on the U.N. Security Council to
MH17, which was bound from the Nether- create a tribunal that would try whoever is
lands to Malaysia, was shot down on July 17, charged, saying in a joint statement that it
2014, over Ukrainian territory controlled by would be «the best means of ensuring justice
pro-Russian separatists. Disputes over who for the victims and their loved ones.»
is responsible for the disaster have helped to Those on the flight included 196 Dutch
sour relations between Moscow and the West. citizens, as well as dozens of Australian and
Malaysia’s transport minister said he was Malaysian citizens.
deeply disappointed by the failure to find But Russian President Vladimir Putin said that
unity in the Security Council and that the efforts to create the U.N. tribunal were pre-
wrong signal had been sent to the families mature and counterproductive, since an
and friends of those killed. investigation into what happened - led by the
A statement from the office of Australian Dutch transportation safety board and due to
Prime Minister Tony Abbott slammed Russia’s report in October - is still ongoing.
use of its veto power -- which it holds as one of A source said that the board, in a draft report
the five permanent members of the Security yet to be released, says evidence indicates that
Council -- as “outrageous.” pro-Russian rebels shot down MH17 above
“By its actions today, Russia has shown war-torn eastern Ukraine with a Russian-
complete disregard for the families’ right to made surface-to-air missile.
know who was responsible and to see these A second, criminal investigation is expected
criminals face justice,” the statement said. to report by the end of the year. Multiple
“Russia had an opportunity to join the inter- Western nations, as well as the Ukrainian gov-
national community in this effort. ernment, have said they believe pro-Russian
“Its actions reinforce concerns Russia is pro- rebels operating there shot down the plane.
tecting the perpetrators and continuing to Rebel leaders and the Russian government
assault the sovereignty of Ukraine.” have repeatedly disputed the accusations.
Official Russian news outlet quoted Russia’s
U.N. envoy Vitaly Churkin as saying Moscow
12 INTERNATIONAL Friday, July 31 2015 - ARUBA TRAVELLER
