MOSCOW (Sputnik), Anastasia Levchenko — Earlier this week, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister for European Integration Olena Zerkal claimed that the results of the official MH17 international investigation would not be made publicly available.
"It sounds a bit strange. Because this issue [MH17 investigation] is being so widely discussed already, not just in the Western media, but also in the Russian and Ukrainian media… I don’t think this statement reflects the real situation. As for the actual results of the international investigation, the Russian position is that they should be made available to all interested countries," Chizhov said.
The EU envoy added that Moscow has maintained this stance when proposing a draft resolution at the UN Security Council.
On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed in Ukraine's eastern region of Donetsk while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 people on board.
According to a preliminary report by the Dutch Safety Board, the plane broke up in mid-air after being hit by a number of high-energy objects penetrating the plane from outside. A final report is expected in October.
New Cross-Party EU Parliament Group May Enhance Dialogue With Moscow
Chizhov also talked about the importance of re-establishing dialogue between the EU and Russia, stating that a newly-formed cross-party group of 15 members of the European Parliament could enhance dialogue between the two sides.
In late June, former French Minister for Apprenticeship and Professional Formation and member of the center-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party Nadine Morano created an international working group in the EU Parliament to engage in dialogue with Russia.
"I am fully aware of this initiative, launched by one of the Members of the European Parliament from France, Ms. Morano. My attitude to this initiative is of course positive. I hope it will be a contributing factor to improving Russia-EU relations," Chizhov told Sputnik, commenting on the group.
Remarking on the potential visit, Chizhov said he looked forward to seeing it come about, adding that he was in regular contact with the members of the group.
Chizhov admitted that he did not expect every member of the European Parliament to join the group, but nevertheless viewed it as a good indication that not all members of the European Parliament support the hard line adopted by European Union toward Russia over the Ukrainian crisis.
"But the very fact that it is happening, I think, is a good indication that not all members of the European Parliament share the official critical view expressed in resolutions adopted at the European Parliament regarding Russia," he stated.
Formed last month, the group named For New Dialogue With Russia consists of 15 members of the European Parliament drawn from France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and Portugal.
