Malaysia, Netherlands Call For Immediate Cessation Of Hostilities At MH17 Crash Site

From Mohd Razman Abdullah THE HAGUE (Netherlands), Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and the Netherlands have called for immediate cessation of hostilities in and around the crash site of Malaysia Airline (MAS) Flight MH17 in Torez, Ukraine, lest such tension escalates into war between the Ukrainian government and the separatist groups. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said both countries also asked that all sides, the Ukraine government and separatists, respect the lives lost and integrity of the site, so that the investigation into the disaster may proceed. "The long walk towards justice begins with this step," Najib said in a statement at joint press briefing with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte here Thursday (above). The MAS flight, MH17, was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it went down in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine near the Russian border on July 17. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft which was carrying 298 people - 283 passengers and 15 crew - was believed to have been shot down, but until today no one has claimed responsibility. A total of 195 Dutch nationals were on board the flight. Najib said for the sake of the grieving families, it was imperative that all remains at the crash site were repatriated as soon as possible. "Every single victim must be given dignity and a decent funeral," he said. He said Malaysia and the Netherlands priority was to ensure that international investigators were given full and unfettered access to the site so that they might collect evidence and carry out their vital work. Only then, he said, the countries involved in the investigation would be able to find out what happened to MH17. "Only then can we achieve justice for the victims and their families. "The conflict in eastern Ukraine may not be easily resolved. But the people on board that plane had no part of it," he said. Najib, who is on two-day working visit to the Netherlands, said like the Netherlands, Malaysia was in mourning over the loss of all 298 lives on board MH17. "As we watched the first bodies arrive in Eindhoven, our hearts reached out to the people of the Netherlands, who have lost so much," he said. He said the flags flying at half mast told their own story of the nations who lost their sons and daughters. "And our determination id to work together to bring them home. He said Malaysia fully supported the international investigation and was grateful to the Netherlands for their lead role in the international team. Meanwhile, Rutte speaking in Dutch, said Malaysia and the Netherlands had discussed three priorities on the MH17 tragedy, which were to bring the victims and belonging home, detemine the cause of the disaster and ensuring the perpetrators were brought to justice. He said the Netherlands is working closely with Malaysia and Australia to achieve these goals whereby 68 Malaysian police officers were currently on their way to Ukraine and 24 expert medical teams were helping with the identifications of victims in Hilversum. He also said the discussions include the matter of inaccessibility to the crash site and had to seriously take into account the possibility that the investigators would not be able to gain access in the coming days. Rutte ensured the victims' bodies repatriation was top priority for both countries. "It is very sad that both our countries are grieving. But it is inspiring to see how we are working together in these difficult times to bring the victims home," he said. Najib later signed a book of condolence on the downing Malaysia Airline and witnessed by Rutte before departing to Hilversum. (photoBERNAMA) --BERNAMA