Russia’s deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov has publicly said that his country opposes plans to create an global tribunal to investigate the downing of MH17, saying that it was “untimely and counterproductive”.
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Mr Rutte said a United Nations tribunal would give “the best guarantee of cooperation from all countries” in seeking justice for the families of 298 victims, most of whom were Dutch passengers aboard flight MH17.
Members of a group of worldwide experts inspect wreckage at the site where the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed, near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine August 1, 2014.
The west had accused Moscow of supplying the missile which was used by rebels to shoot the plane.
Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen, the permanent representative of New Zealand, this month’s president of the panel of 15, told reporters of Kuala Lumpur’s plans, Xinhua reported.
The Boeing 777 jet was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam when it was shot down during fierce fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists.
“Malaysia briefed the council members this (Thursday) morning of their intention to present a resolution in relation to MH17”, he said.
The Netherlands is leading the criminal investigation, which is also assisted by Belgium, Australia and Ukraine.
“Our sense was that all council members, including Russian Federation, were open to further consider the matter”, said Malaysian diplomat Johan Ariff Abdul Razak.
Russian Federation has veto powers in the 15-member security council, along with the United States, China, Britain and France.
The Netherlands has taken the lead in a multinational investigation that includes Malaysia, Australia, Belgium and Ukraine.
It will also make a judgement as to whether the passengers on board were aware of the crash – though it may decide there is not enough information to say for sure.
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If the Security Council agreed to the creation of a tribunal along the lines being proposed, it would have the authority to enforce its efforts to prosecute with worldwide sanctions.
