Netherlands to work with allies to hold perpetrators accountable
KUALA LUMPUR: The Netherlands Foreign Minister Stef Blok hopes to underscore close partnership with countries that have developed in the aftermath of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
“The Netherlands, Malaysia, and the entire international community share common objectives that have been laid down in resolution 2166 of the Security Council of the United Nations.
“The objectives are to establish the truth, achieve justice and hold perpetrators accountable,” he told the New Straits Times in an interview recently.
Stef had a meeting with Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah in Wisma Putra during his visit to Malaysia recently.
He said criminal investigation started in the first days after the downing of flight MH17 and since it’s a complex investigation, it needed to be done thoroughly.
Investigators from the five countries in the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had been working tirelessly in the past years on a daily basis to achieve truth, justice and accountability, he said.
He said JIT had announced findings on a number of occasions, including the conclusion on May 24 last year that the missile launcher used to bring down flight MH17 belonged to the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
“The governments of the countries whose investigative authorities are cooperating in JIT have jointly decided in 2017 that a trial of possible suspects would take place in the Netherlands.
“A location has been assigned, preparations made and are ongoing to ensure that everything is in place if the Dutch public prosecutor brings a case to court.”
Stef said JIT countries, including Malaysia, had pledged to share some costs related to holding a trial in the Netherlands.
“A memorandum of understanding was signed on Jan 22 this year,” he said. “Progress has been made in bringing those responsible for the downing of flight MH17 to justice. As to if and when the suspects would be indicted, it is up to the independent public prosecutor to decide.”
Stef said the MH17 incident was a tragedy that affected both nations.
“It, however, brought us closer. We value the cooperation with the government and the investigating authorities of Malaysia. I am confident our strong relationship will continue until we have reached our shared objectives and beyond.”
Last month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko was quoted as saying that Russia was ready to engage in talks with the Netherlands on the downing of flight MH17.