Statement by the Joint Investigation Team Member States represented at the United Nations on the occasion of the UNGA High-Level Week Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs
On behalf of the governments of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine.
On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukrainian territory. All 298 innocent people on board including 80 children died as a result. The victims came from 17 different countries. They were taken from us for no reason, without warning. The pain of their passing is still felt intensely today by their families and friends all over the world.
Two months ago, we commemorated the 10 years since the downing of Flight MH17. The ten-year commemoration memorial services that took place in the Netherlands, Australia and around the world brought back painful memories and strong emotions. We renew our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims, and we reiterate our full support for all efforts to establish truth, justice and accountability, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2166.
The Ministers of Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands remain committed to achieving truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their families. Those who have been left behind deserve closure. They need to know that everything that can be done has been done to prevent these tragedies from happening in the future.
We call for the perpetrators of this tragedy to be held accountable, and to cooperate fully to deliver truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their next of kin.
