Virtual stakeout read by Juergen Schulz, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations on behalf of current and former EU members of the Security Council (Germany, France, Estonia, Belgium, Poland) on MH17 (Malaysian airline flight).
In a joint statement, current and former EU members of the Security Council said the start of the criminal trial in the District Court of Hague marks “an important milestone towards establishing truth and justice for the victims and their families, as well as towards holding those responsible for the downing of Flight MH17 to account.”
Speaking on behalf of Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany and Poland, German ambassador Jürgen Schulz said it had been “almost six years since 298 innocent lives were lost in the tragic downing of flight MH17.”
Speaking today (08 Apr) in a virtual press conference, Schulz said, “We welcome the legal proceedings of the Dutch judiciary, which are based on the work of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), and we express our full confidence in their independence, impartiality and professionalism.”
He added, “It is unfortunate, that so far, the Russian authorities have not cooperated fully with the independent investigation of the JIT. As the criminal investigation of the JIT continues, we recall all States, particularly the Russian Federation, of their obligations under UNSC Resolution 2166, and to cooperate fully with the international investigation.”
