
Statement of the Foreign Minister of Ukraine on the 3rd Anniversary of MH17
Three years
ago a world becoming accustomed to the most despicable terrorist outrages was shocked and stunned when 298 passengers and crew members of the
Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 were blasted out of the skies over Ukraine.
For many
around the world it brought the Russian fomented war in Donbas to their
attention for the first time.
Even for
Ukrainians, including those facing death in Donbas, it was impossible to
believe that terrorists had the ability to hit the civilian aircraft 11.000
meters above the ground. Even with all the support Russia was known to be
providing it was simply not credible or believable in any way.
Can
economic and political sanctions or awards in criminal case compensate the
grief of so many who lost their loved ones? No, I am afraid it cannot. But the
Ukrainian government has made a pledge - and we are determined to do everything
in our power to unveil the truth and bring those responsible for this mass
murder to justice.
And if we
do not, those for whom human lives mean little more than a number or a
statistic will continue in their homicidal ways. The path of truth can be both
narrow and difficult. It is taking time and determination to travel. But once
set in motion the wheels of justice grind inexorably – we will reach our goal.
Two
investigations have been carried out into this case. The first was a technical
investigation led by the Dutch Security Board. The second was a criminal
investigation conducted by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), made up from
prosecutors from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium and Malaysia,
According to both investigations the aircraft was downed by a BUK missile. And
that BUK missile was launched from territory controlled by Russia-backed
terrorists. Furthermore, the same BUK missile was brought from Russia and after
the attack its launcher was delivered back to Russia.
But we are
only halfway to our ultimate objective. We want to know who pushed the button,
who gave the order and what was the ultimate chain of command. In short the
world needs to know, and the families of the 298 who were slain need to know,
who was ultimately responsible for the murder of their loved ones.
The five
countries making up the Joint Investigation Team have now decided to prosecute
those responsible for downing of MH17. This will be done within the Dutch
judicial system and as the process begins, we count on the support of all nations
and people of good will.
The
threshold of proof is high and the trial must be objective and the verdict
internationally recognized. Those who would foment wars in sovereign countries
by supporting and funding terrorists and sending others to kill must be exposed
for what they are and held to account. No less than the core values of our
rules based world order, for which the likes of the Russian Federation show so
much contempt, depend on this happening.
Pavlo Klimkin