EU, Asean condemn downing of MH 17

MANILA, Philippines - The European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called upon all states and parties to fully cooperate to hold accountable those directly and indirectly responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in Ukraine and swiftly bring them to justice.

In a joint statement of the EU and ASEAN issued at the 20th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, the ministers condemned the attack on Flight MH17 in Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine last July 17.

The ministers welcomed the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166 on July 21 on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and urged its full implementation.

They expressed their shock and indignation over the tragic deaths of the 298 people of multiple nationalities on the plane and conveyed their deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of those on board and to the governments and people of the affected countries.

EU and ASEAN also demanded a swift, full and thorough, transparent and independent international investigation of the incident in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines.

They said all parties in the area of the crash site should provide full cooperation, to include assistance to safe, secure, full, immediate and unrestricted access to the site and surrounding area as well as support to the appropriate investigating authorities, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission and representatives of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other established procedures.

“The ministers demanded that the armed groups in control of this site and the surrounding area refrain from any actions that may compromise the integrity of the crash site,” the statement said as the ministers further insisted on the “dignified, respectful and professional treatment and recovery of the bodies of the victims, and called upon all parties to ensure that this happens with immediate effect.”

All military activities, including by armed groups, should immediately cease in the area surrounding the crash site as demanded by the ministers to allow for security and safety of the international investigation.

“The ministers agreed that those directly and indirectly responsible should be held accountable and be brought to justice swiftly. The ministers called upon all states and parties to fully cooperate toward this end,” the statement said.

All were in agreement that the MH17 tragedy is another stark illustration of how escalation of disputes and threat to international peace and security could claim innocent lives in a tragic and senseless manner, as the ministers called on all parties to stop the senseless loss of life and to refrain from any escalatory acts.

Filipina Irene Pabellon-Gunawan, her Indonesian husband Buddy and children Sherryl Shania and Darryl Dwight were among the passengers who perished on Malaysia Airlines MH17 when the plane was shot down over Ukraine.

The remains of some of the victims were handed over to Dutch authorities.

The first of the caskets bearing the bodies of victims of the Malaysian airliner were flown to the Netherlands on Wednesday for identification. – With Lawrence Agcaoili