Russia vetoes Security Council proposal on MH17 tribunal

[webfact]

Russia vetoes Security Council proposal on MH17 tribunal
CARA ANNA, Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia on Wednesday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would set up an international criminal court to prosecute those responsible for shooting down a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine a year ago.

The foreign ministers of the Netherlands, Australia and Ukraine attended a meeting over the downing that killed all 298 people on board Flight MH17. The countries are among the five nations investigating the incident, along with Malaysia and Belgium.

Ukraine and the West suspect the plane, traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was hit by a surface-to-air missile fired by Russian soldiers or Russia-backed separatist rebels on July 17, 2014. Russia denies that, and state media have alleged the plane was shot down by a Ukrainian missile or warplane.

"Russia has callously disregarded the public outcry in the grieving nations," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said, adding that the United States was among the 18 countries that lost citizens in the disaster.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop of Australia, which lost 39 citizens, said, "The veto only compounds the atrocity." Three countries abstained from the vote: China, Angola and Venezuela, whose ambassador said victims' suffering shouldn't be used politically.

Wednesday's vote followed a last-minute effort to lobby Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has said setting up a tribunal would not make sense while the investigation continued.

The Dutch ambassador to the U.N., Karel van Oosterom, tweeted a statement saying Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Putin that "it was preferable to make a decision about the tribunal before the facts and charges have been established precisely in order to avoid politicizing the prosecution process."

But the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying a tribunal would be "inexpedient" because Russia still has "a lot of questions" about the investigation to which it had little access.

Russia had offered its own draft that demanded justice for those responsible for the crash without calling for a tribunal. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council after the vote that such a tribunal risked not being impartial and being subject to media "propaganda," and he called past tribunals for the Rwanda genocide and the violence in the former Yugoslavia "expensive."

Ministers from the five investigating countries, along with allies in the 15-member council, later stressed that other legal options are available, but some acknowledged that a tribunal established by the council remains the best option. Some indicated they might pursue it again.

"We will very quickly agree on the next step," Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders told reporters. "I assure you we haven't lost time."

The foreign ministers also met Wednesday morning with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who called for justice and accountability.

A preliminary report released in the Netherlands last year said the plane had no technical problems in the seconds before it broke up in the sky after being struck by multiple objects — a conclusion that experts said likely pointed to a missile strike.

The investigation led by the Dutch Safety Board aims only to determine the crash cause, not to ascribe blame. The probe is being led by The Netherlands because 196 of the victims were Dutch.

A separate probe by the Dutch national prosecutor's office aims to establishing who was responsible. This investigation includes authorities from Ukraine, Malaysia and other countries whose nationals were among the victims, but Russia is not a participant.

One possibility that wasn't discussed Wednesday is the International Criminal Court, which takes on cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide in states that can't or won't take on the matter themselves.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-30

[pitrevie]

What a surprise, I guess they have nothing to hide.

[meatboy]

What a surprise, I guess they have nothing to hide.

thats what the whole world thinks.

[kingalfred]

The Russian Federation. A criminal government and a psycho president. Isolate this pariah state and strangle its economy to a crippling state is the only way forward!

[Benmart]

We have noting to hide and please don't ask any questions.

[StasD]

1 year passed after tragedy but the US could not make any "evidence" that the Russia is gilty. Only bla-bla-bla so this Tribunal can only help to increase that bla-bla-bla. This is modern politics

[lovetotravel]

1 year passed after tragedy but the US could not make any "evidence" that the Russia is gilty. Only bla-bla-bla so this Tribunal can only help to increase that bla-bla-bla. This is modern politics

Hard to come up with evidence when the "crime" scene was controlled by a milita, parts were moved, things were stolen. Agree a tribunal might be a bit much, but the victims relatives deserve to know what happened. Anybody blocking an investigation has something to hide. Otherwise, why would they care?

Plus, there's lots of circumstantial evidence pointing to a ground based missile being used. Just need to figure out who pulled the trigger. If Russia knows it wasn't them, why not support the investigation?

P.S. This isn't about the US. Many other countries are aggressively pursuing this. And rightfully so.

[Tywais]

A post modifying another member's comment removed.

[ABCer]

Russian veto is virtually an admission of guilt.

Nuremberg Court was easy to set up - Nazis were defeated.

Unfortunately nobody defeated Communists of Russia.

Everything that has happened since breakup of USSR is the result of the above.

UN is an irrelevant organisation today. This applies even more to its Security Council.

Ask yourself: - "What is Russia doing in SC of UN?"

- as a world economic power it is irrelevant;

- as a world nuclear power - there are many others;

- as a conventional military power - it is very questionable and for too many reasons;

- as a political system - it is a perfect example of kleptocracy - a beacon showing where no country should do.

A Tribunal on MH17 should be set up. Russian right of veto should be removed.

Edited July 30, 2015 by ABCer

[EnglishJohn]

GUILTY.

They know it, the world knows it and in the true spirit of dirty international politics, they deny it.

That way they do not have to take any responsibility for it.