Latest News
HomeRegional NewsAfricaU.S. presses case against Russia on downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17
Air disasters

U.S. presses case against Russia on downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote today on a resolution that would condemn the downing of the plane and demands that those responsible be held accountable and that armed groups not compromise the integrity of the crash site.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry laid out what he called overwhelming evidence of Russian complicity in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. Kerry demanded that Moscow take responsibility for actions of pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine whom Washington suspects of downing the jet with a missile, and expressed disgust at their “grotesque” mishandling of the bodies.

According to Reuters, television images of the rebel-held crash sites, where the remains of victims had lain decomposing in fields among their personal belongings, have turned initial shock and sorrow after Thursday’s disaster into anger. Emotions ran high in the Netherlands, the home country of about two-thirds of the 298 people who died in the Boeing 777. The Dutch foreign minister has said the nation is “furious” to hear bodies were being “dragged around”, while relatives and church leaders demanded they be rapidly returned home. But the departure of dozens of corpses loaded into refrigerated railway wagons was delayed on Sunday as Ukrainian officials and rebels traded blame over why the train had not yet left the war zone, and where or when international investigators would be able to check it.

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote today on a resolution that would condemn the downing of the plane and demands that those responsible be held accountable and that armed groups not compromise the integrity of the crash site.

In an apparent bid to compromise with Moscow, the wording of the resolution, drafted by Australia, was changed to characterize the incident as the “downing” of the flight, instead of “shooting down,” according to the final draft obtained by Reuters. Diplomats said it was unclear if Russia would support the final version.

Moscow denies any involvement in the disaster and has blamed the Ukrainian military. While stopping short of direct blame on Moscow, Kerry put forward the most detailed U.S. accusations so far, based on the latest U.S. intelligence assessments.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he had spoken “overnight” to Vladimir Putin for the first time about the disaster, amid mounting horror over the treatment of victims’ remains. At least 27 Australian passengers were on the Malaysia Airlines flight.

European Union ministers should be ready to announce a fresh round of sanctions at a meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council this week, said a statement from British Prime Minister David Cameron‘s office, issued after telephone calls with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “They … agreed that the EU must reconsider its approach to Russia and that foreign ministers should be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia when they meet on Tuesday,” it said.

The leaders also agreed to press Putin to ensure investigators had free access to the crash site.

OSCE observers visited part of the crash site for a third day on Sunday. Just before their arrival, emergency workers found parts of three more bodies and put them in black body bags on the side of a road.

Statement on MH17 by IATA Director General and CEO Tony Tyler
“I share the shock and sadness expressed by so many around the world on the terrible loss of MH 17. At this time, it is important we are very clear: safety is the top priority. No airline will risk the safety of their passengers, crew and aircraft for the sake of fuel savings. Airlines depend on governments and air traffic control authorities to advise which air space is available for flight, and they plan within those limits.

It is very similar to driving a car. If the road is open, you assume that it is safe. If it’s closed you find an alternate route.

Civil aircraft are not military targets. Governments agreed that in the Chicago Convention. And what happened with MH 17 is a tragedy for 298 souls that should not have happened in any airspace.”

UNWTO shocked by the tragic loss of Malaysia Airlines flight
UNWTO is deeply shocked by the tragic crash of Malaysia Airline flight MH17. On behalf of the international tourism community, UNWTO conveys its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims. “We are appalled by this horrible crash and I would like to, on behalf of UNWTO, reiterate the call by UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, of a full international investigation into the disaster“, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

Emirates calls for airlines summit on ‘outrageous’ MH17 attack
Tim Clark, president of Dubai’s Emirates, said domestic regulators worldwide may decide to be more involved in giving their carriers guidance on where it is safe to fly. “The international airline community needs to respond as an entity, saying this is absolutely not acceptable and outrageous, and that it won’t tolerate being targeted in internecine regional conflicts that have nothing to do with airlines,” Clark told Reuters in a telephone interview.

He said the International Air Transport Association could call an international conference to see what changes need to made in the way the industry tackles regional instability. The head of the Geneva-based group, which represents about 200 global airlines, said last week they depended on governments and air traffic agencies to advise which airspace is available.

But Clark – who described himself as “incandescent with rage” when he heard of the attack on the airliner and its almost 300 passengers – said IATA and a United Nations body, the International Civil Aviation Organization, could take action. He dismissed suggestions that airliners should be equipped with anti-missile devices, an idea previously aired when an Airbus A300 cargo plane was struck by a shoulder-launched missile after taking off from Baghdad in 2003.

Co-Founder & Chief Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | Website | + Posts

Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.

She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.

28/03/2024
27/03/2024
26/03/2024
25/03/2024
22/03/2024
21/03/2024