UNITED NATIONS, July 22 (RIA Novosti) – Russia insists that the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) should have a leading role in the investigation into the crash of a Malaysian passenger plane in eastern Ukraine, the country’s envoy to the UN said.
“The investigation into the circumstances of this incident should be organized with the leading role of ICAO and participation of everyone who is ready to help finding the truth,” Vitaly Churkin said.
Russia is ready to provide assistance to carry out the unbiased international investigation, he said. “Russia’s military and civilian agencies have been given relevant instructions. We are ready to send experts to assist the probe,” Churkin said.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Monday demanding that those responsible for this incident be held to account and all military activities be immediately ceased near the crash site to allow for security and safety of the international probe.
Churkin said experts of the UN aviation body, ICAO, should have all the evidence, including flight data recorders, to study the circumstances of the Boeing crash.
“It is essential to make every effort to ensure full security of work of international experts at the site of the tragedy and humanitarian corridors should be provided to them,” Churkin said.
Representatives of Donbas, Donetsk, Ukraine’s emergencies ministry and other experts are currently working at the scene, he said. “But this is not enough. A full-fledged group of experts led by ICAO and an international commission should work at the catastrophe site,” Churkin stressed.
On July 17, a Malaysia Airlines plane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed near the town of Torez in Ukraine’s Donetsk Region. All 298 people on board, including 85 children and 15 crew members, died in the accident.
Authorities in Kiev lay the blame on independence supporters, whereas the militiamen insist they do not have the required technology to shoot a target flying this high.
