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Bohdan Yaremenko: MH17 tribunal should be considered in UN General Assembly

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Bohdan Yaremenko: MH17 tribunal should be considered in UN General Assembly
Bohdan Yaremenko

Ukraine should carry out a national investigation into the MH17 crash.

The proper investigation and trial in Ukraine can give grounds for a well-considered and well-reasoned decision of the international tribunal.

Bohdan Yaremenko, a Ukrainian diplomat and head of the charitable foundation Maidan of Foreign Affairs, said it in an interview with charter97.org.

– The UN Security Council will vote today on setting up a tribunal to investigate the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash. What results do you expect?

– Taking into account the clearly defined position of the Russian Federation, which has the veto right in the UN Security Council, we don't have many grounds to expect the resolution to be adopted.

I think the final solution to the problem is not the aim of today's meeting. There are no other variants except for submitting the issue from the Security Council to the UN General Assembly. To achieve it, the Security Council must demonstrate its inability to take the decision on the issue.

I think there will be other attempts, but the case will finally be submitted to the General Assembly session, and the Assembly will take the final decision.

– What other steps can Ukrainian diplomats take to establish those responsible for the crash?

– Ukrainian diplomats are not demonstrating any activity. They work in coordination with other countries that propose the initiative. In this case, it is not the initiative of only Ukraine, which is right, because we need to coordinate our actions with other countries – the Netherlands, Australia and Malaysia.

In general, I think Ukraine must be more active in what concerns the national investigation in Ukraine. Ukraine is the state governed by law. A crime was committed in our territory, and Ukraine should carry out its own investigation regardless of what the UN does.

Moreover, the proper investigation and trial carried out by Ukraine can give grounds for a well-considered and well-reasoned decision of the international tribunal if it is set up.

– Do you think the national investigation and trial are possible technically? Most part of evidence was stolen by terrorists.

– The international tribunal will face the same problems. The national investigation is possible, of course. I think we have enough documents, arguments, facts and evidence to, firstly, come to a conclusion that it was a terrorist act and, secondly, establish who and when shot down the plane.

Establishing the mastermind is a different matter. This is a more difficult task. I think Ukraine does not have another way out. As a sovereign state ruled by law, it must carry its own national investigation.

We have a precedent. For example, the American plane that was shot down in Scotland, of which Libyan secret services were accused. The local police of the town of Lockerbie carried out an investigation in cooperation with the US FBI. This is the right formula that should have been used at the very beginning.

– Why such an investigation has not been launched, in your opinion?

– I cannot say it hasn't been launched. The focus was on carrying out an international investigation.

Ukraine apparently tried to prevent possible accusations of the lack of professionalism or attempts to hide any facts. I think the demonstration of transparency is also possible in the national investigation.

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