Today’s report of the Dutch Safety Board is an important step to shed full light on the downing of flight MH17. Those who lost their loved ones have the right to know the facts behind the tragedy of 17 July 2014, and a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident has been identified as a key objective by the UN Security Council. The report concludes that MH17 was hit by a so-called BUK-missile, and explicitly rules out other options. Moreover, the report defines a 320-square-kilometre area in eastern Ukraine from where the missile was launched. Thus, it puts an end to 15 months of speculation over a number of key facts related to the crash.
UNSC resolution 2166 stipulates that those directly or indirectly responsible for the downing of MH17 must be held accountable and brought to justice. To this end a criminal investigation has been launched by the Joint Investigation Team. States that are in a position to assist with the investigation and prosecution of those responsible must fully cooperate with the ongoing criminal investigation.
The EU reiterates its full support to the work of the Joint Investigation Team and to the ongoing efforts to establish an effective prosecution mechanism to ensure that the perpetrators of the downing of the flight MH17 are identified and brought to justice.
