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| U.N. Council, With Russia in Accord, Tells Insurgents to Open Wreckage Site | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously passed a resolution that “condemns in the strongest terms” the attack that brought down the Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine, called for an international investigation with the United Nations civil aviation agency, and demanded that armed groups at the crash site allow unfettered access. | UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously passed a resolution that “condemns in the strongest terms” the attack that brought down the Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine, called for an international investigation with the United Nations civil aviation agency, and demanded that armed groups at the crash site allow unfettered access. |
| Russia agreed to support the draft text after intense negotiations that went on until early Monday morning, in which language of the draft text was tweaked to satisfy the Kremlin’s demands. The phrase “shooting down” was changed to “downing.” The role of the Ukrainian government was diminished. A paragraph calling for a cessation of hostilities around the crash site was added. | Russia agreed to support the draft text after intense negotiations that went on until early Monday morning, in which language of the draft text was tweaked to satisfy the Kremlin’s demands. The phrase “shooting down” was changed to “downing.” The role of the Ukrainian government was diminished. A paragraph calling for a cessation of hostilities around the crash site was added. |
| The Russian ambassador, Vitaly I. Churkin, said as he entered the Council chamber that the text had been “improved” in order to win his government’s support. | The Russian ambassador, Vitaly I. Churkin, said as he entered the Council chamber that the text had been “improved” in order to win his government’s support. |
| It remains to be seen if the separatists who control the area around the crash site will cooperate with international investigators. The resolution is not under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and, as a result, not enforceable. | It remains to be seen if the separatists who control the area around the crash site will cooperate with international investigators. The resolution is not under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and, as a result, not enforceable. |
| “It is despicable this access is not being provided,” the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, told the Council. Australia drafted the resolution. | “It is despicable this access is not being provided,” the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, told the Council. Australia drafted the resolution. |
| All 298 people on board were killed. The majority were from the Netherlands. | All 298 people on board were killed. The majority were from the Netherlands. |
| The Dutch foreign minister, Frans Timmermans, told reporters earlier in the day that his chief priority was to secure the help of the Council to bring the bodies of his compatriots home. | The Dutch foreign minister, Frans Timmermans, told reporters earlier in the day that his chief priority was to secure the help of the Council to bring the bodies of his compatriots home. |
| “We are a nation united in our wish to bring our loved ones back home and also our wish to investigate what happened and then hold those responsible accountable,” Mr. Timmermans said at the offices of the Dutch mission to the United Nations. | “We are a nation united in our wish to bring our loved ones back home and also our wish to investigate what happened and then hold those responsible accountable,” Mr. Timmermans said at the offices of the Dutch mission to the United Nations. |
| Diplomatic pressure on Russia gained some momentum on Monday afternoon at the United Nations, as Mr. Timmermans sharply accused the separatists who control the area of the crash site of playing with the remains of the dead and Australia exhorted Moscow to use its influence over those separatists. | Diplomatic pressure on Russia gained some momentum on Monday afternoon at the United Nations, as Mr. Timmermans sharply accused the separatists who control the area of the crash site of playing with the remains of the dead and Australia exhorted Moscow to use its influence over those separatists. |
| Speaking to a packed Security Council chamber, Mr. Timmermans appealed to the diplomats around the table to imagine what it must feel like to be told of a husband’s death and then watch “images of some thug removing a wedding band from their hand.” | Speaking to a packed Security Council chamber, Mr. Timmermans appealed to the diplomats around the table to imagine what it must feel like to be told of a husband’s death and then watch “images of some thug removing a wedding band from their hand.” |
| “This is the political game that is being played with human remains and it’s despicable,” he said. | “This is the political game that is being played with human remains and it’s despicable,” he said. |
| Speaking to reporters outside the Council, he was far more pointed at Russia. He said he found it “mind-boggling” that Russia, having initially accused Ukraine in the crash, did not call on the separatists to cooperate with international investigators over the last several days. “I hope Russia would now feel its responsibility, act upon its responsibility,” Mr. Timmermans said. “If it doesn’t, it’s going to have an increasingly isolated position in the international community.” | Speaking to reporters outside the Council, he was far more pointed at Russia. He said he found it “mind-boggling” that Russia, having initially accused Ukraine in the crash, did not call on the separatists to cooperate with international investigators over the last several days. “I hope Russia would now feel its responsibility, act upon its responsibility,” Mr. Timmermans said. “If it doesn’t, it’s going to have an increasingly isolated position in the international community.” |
| Ms. Bishop, the Australian foreign minister, said it was “incumbent” on Russia as a member of the Security Council “to ensure the intent of resolution is implemented.” | Ms. Bishop, the Australian foreign minister, said it was “incumbent” on Russia as a member of the Security Council “to ensure the intent of resolution is implemented.” |
| The American ambassador, Samantha Power, chided Moscow for not speaking publicly about the need to ensure the safety of international investigators until Monday, just before the passage of the resolution. “Russia’s muteness over the dark days between Thursday and today sent a message to the illegal armed groups it supports: We have your backs,” she said. | The American ambassador, Samantha Power, chided Moscow for not speaking publicly about the need to ensure the safety of international investigators until Monday, just before the passage of the resolution. “Russia’s muteness over the dark days between Thursday and today sent a message to the illegal armed groups it supports: We have your backs,” she said. |
| Mr. Churkin said he welcomed what he hoped would be “an objective investigation” that would involve the Netherlands in coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency. | Mr. Churkin said he welcomed what he hoped would be “an objective investigation” that would involve the Netherlands in coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency. |
| He described the rebels in eastern Ukraine as having been “completely confused” about what to do with the bodies. | He described the rebels in eastern Ukraine as having been “completely confused” about what to do with the bodies. |
| “To the extent we have contacts with them this is what we are telling them. They must respect the victims. They must behave properly,” he said. | “To the extent we have contacts with them this is what we are telling them. They must respect the victims. They must behave properly,” he said. |
| Asked if he believed the Ukrainians could be responsible, Mr. Churkin said he was not convinced the separatists had shot down the plane, or if there had been “confusion” about whether it was military or civilian. “We are asking questions,” he said. “There are quite a few questions.” | Asked if he believed the Ukrainians could be responsible, Mr. Churkin said he was not convinced the separatists had shot down the plane, or if there had been “confusion” about whether it was military or civilian. “We are asking questions,” he said. “There are quite a few questions.” |