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Russia Vetoes U.N. Resolution on Tribunal for Malaysia Airlines Crash in Ukraine Russia Vetoes U.N. Resolution on Tribunal for Malaysia Airlines Crash in Ukraine
(about 3 hours later)
Russia blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would create a tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jetliner last year in eastern Ukraine. UNITED NATIONS — Infuriating nations that lost citizens in the downing of a Malaysian jetliner last year in eastern Ukraine, Russia blocked a Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would have created a tribunal to prosecute those responsible.
The measure was aimed at enforcing accountability for the downing of Flight 17, which killed all 298 people aboard. Many of the passengers were Dutch, and the Netherlands has been investigating the disaster. The Russians suggested the measure was a biased and politically motivated propaganda move to implicate the Kremlin or the Kremlin-backed Ukrainian separatists in control of eastern Ukraine.
Russian officials had signaled their strong opposition to the resolution, which was introduced by Malaysia and drafted by a collection of countries, including the Netherlands, Ukraine and Australia. Although the Russian veto was not unexpected, it resurrected the tensions and bitter feelings precipitated by the destruction of the Malaysia Airlines jetliner, which appeared to have been hit by a sophisticated missile and plunged in pieces to the ground on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people aboard. The disaster elevated the simmering pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine into an international crisis.
Many of the passengers on the plane, Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, were Dutch, and the Netherlands has been taking the lead in investigating the disaster. But four other countries are collaborating with the inquiry — Malaysia, Ukraine, Australia and Belgium.
“We are deeply disappointed,” said the Malaysia transport minister, Liow Tiong Lai, who attended the Council session and spoke in support of the resolution before the vote.
“Families of the victims will have to wait even longer,” he told reporters later outside the Council chambers. But echoing remarks by ministers from the other nations investigating the disaster, he said, “The perpetrators, wherever they come from, must be held to account.”
Bert Koenders, the Dutch foreign minister, told reporters it “does not come as a complete surprise” that Russia had blocked the resolution. Nonetheless, he said, “I find it incomprehensible that a member of the Security Council obstructs justice.”
Mr. Koenders said the veto should not be interpreted as a defeat. “We will very quickly agree on the next step,” he said. “I assure you we haven’t lost time.”
Malaysia introduced the Security Council resolution, which was aimed at enforcing accountability for the downing of Flight 17.
The vote in the 15-member Council was 11 to 1. Three countries — China, Angola and Venezuela — abstained.The vote in the 15-member Council was 11 to 1. Three countries — China, Angola and Venezuela — abstained.
“We are deeply disappointed,” said the Malaysia transport minister, Liow Tong Lai, who attended the Council session and spoke in support of the resolution before the vote.
Russia, one of the five permanent members of the Council, along with Britain, China, France and the United States, has veto power over any resolution.Russia, one of the five permanent members of the Council, along with Britain, China, France and the United States, has veto power over any resolution.
Explaining the veto, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly I. Churkin, said his country wanted a “rapid determination of guilt” for whoever was found responsible. But he also questioned the impartiality of the tribunal envisioned in the resolution. “Can it resist propaganda?” he said.Explaining the veto, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly I. Churkin, said his country wanted a “rapid determination of guilt” for whoever was found responsible. But he also questioned the impartiality of the tribunal envisioned in the resolution. “Can it resist propaganda?” he said.
Ukraine’s government accused Kremlin-backed separatists of using a Russian-made missile to shoot down the plane, which was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam on July 17, 2014. The jetliner plunged in pieces to a bucolic part of eastern Ukraine near the Russian border. Ukraine’s government accused Kremlin-backed separatists of using a Russian-made missile to shoot down the plane.
Russia, which has suggested that Ukrainian forces may have been responsible, said the resolution had been politicized and that an investigation into the cause of the crash had not been completed. Russia, which has suggested that Ukrainian forces may have been responsible — with either a missile or a warplane, said the resolution had been politicized and that an investigation into the cause of the crash had not been completed.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop of Australia, who also attended the Council vote, called the veto “a mockery of Russia’s commitment to accountability.”Foreign Minister Julie Bishop of Australia, who also attended the Council vote, called the veto “a mockery of Russia’s commitment to accountability.”
A few weeks ago, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia forcefully rejected the idea of a tribunal in a telephone call to Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, calling it an “untimely and counterproductive initiative.”A few weeks ago, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia forcefully rejected the idea of a tribunal in a telephone call to Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, calling it an “untimely and counterproductive initiative.”