UKRAINE-CRISIS/MH17-RUTTE Dutch PM asks Russia to cooperate in MH17 criminal investigation
Record ID:
135572
UKRAINE-CRISIS/MH17-RUTTE Dutch PM asks Russia to cooperate in MH17 criminal investigation
- Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/MH17-RUTTE Dutch PM asks Russia to cooperate in MH17 criminal investigation
- Date: 13th October 2015
- Summary: THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS (OCTOBER 13, 2015) (REUTERS) DUTCH PRIME MINISTER, MARK RUTTE, ARRIVING AT NEWS BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) DUTCH PRIME MINISTER, MARK RUTTE, SAYING: "I want to call on Russian authorities to respect but also to provide complete co-operation with this report and the following criminal investigation by the Dutch public prosecutor in collaboration with four other countries." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) DUTCH PRIME MINISTER, MARK RUTTE, SAYING: "Priority number three is now to find and arrest the offenders and, as you know, that investigation is ongoing. The (Dutch) Safety Board's report is a new element and undoubtedly an important building block in the criminal investigation." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) DUTCH PRIME MINISTER, MARK RUTTE, SAYING: "We have to realise that the criminal investigation is complex and it needs time and patience for its conclusion." JOURNALISTS RUTTE LEAVING BRIEFING ROOM
- Embargoed: 28th October 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA7EOVU42HC063TUDR4AGCIQIHN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called on Russia to co-operate fully with the criminal investigation into who is responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 with 298 people onboard.
The comments followed the publication earlier on Tuesday (October 13) of a final report by the Dutch Safety Board into the crash. It concluded that MH17 was brought down by a Russian-made Buk missile, fired from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.
The long-awaited findings of the board, which was not empowered to address questions of responsibility, did not specify who launched the missile on July 17, 2014.
"I want to call on Russian authorities to respect but also to provide complete co-operation with this report and the following criminal investigation by the Dutch public prosecutor in collaboration with four other countries," Rutte told a news briefing in The Hague.
He added that one of the top priorities now is for offenders to be arrested.
"The (Dutch) Safety Board's report is a new element and undoubtedly an important building block in the criminal investigation," he said.
Dutch prosecutor Fred Westerbeke has said he will not rest until those responsible for downing MH17 are brought before a judge.
However, prosecutors cannot issue charges until a venue has been decided. In July, Russia vetoed a Dutch proposal at the United Nations to set up an international tribunal and the Dutch government is now looking at other alternatives.
"We have to realise that the criminal investigation is complex and it needs time and patience for its conclusion," Rutte told reporters.
The victims of MH17 were from the Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, Britain, Germany, Belgium, The Philippines, Canada and New Zealand. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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