Ms Bishop told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV that despite Russia’s resistance, she was encouraged by support from the UN Security Council.
“The vote only compounds the atrocity”.
“But let us be clear: Today’s veto cannot and will not deny the victims and their families justice”. Russian Federation has made a mockery of its own commitment to accountability enshrined in resolution 2166. The council’s five permanent members – China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United State – each have veto power. “They will not be allowed to evade justice”.
The Russian draft also noted that “the establishment of the true causes of this aerial incident is critical for bringing those responsible to justice”.
New Zealand is about to face one of its biggest tests during its month-long term as president of the United Nations Security Council.
“If you are afraid of truth, you are definitely on the wrong side”.
Malaysia, the Netherlands, Australia, Ukraine and Belgium have expressed their support for such a tribunal, and Malaysia has circulated a draft resolution to that effect.
Australia and the four other nations behind the move are pushing for a resolution that would bind all UN member states and including sanctions for those responsible. “This of course is regrettable”, Churkin said.
“What are the grounds to be assured of the impartiality of such an investigation?”
He asked how it could resist an “aggressive backdrop of propaganda in the media”.
” We do not back the creation of a tribunal… The Russian president underscored the need to strictly abide by UN Security Council resolution 2166 adopted at Russia’s initiative on July 21, 2014 and aimed at ensuring a comprehensive, careful, and independent investigation”, it said. “Impunity will give a very risky signal”, he said.
Kiev and the West point the finger at the separatists, saying they may have used a BUK surface-to-air missile supplied by Russian Federation to down the plane. There were 39 Australians on board flight MH17.
Putin told Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Wednesday in a telephone conversation that it was not practical to establish an global tribunal on the crash.
