UNSC demands safe, unrestricted access to MH17 crash site

The UN Security Council on Monday approved a resolution demanding safe and unrestricted access to the MH17 crash site, and calling for full cooperation with the international investigation.

In the resolution adopted unanimously at a meeting, the Council members condemned "in the strongest terms" the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MHI7 on July 17 in Donetsk Oblast Ukraine resulting in the tragic loss of all 298 passengers and crew on board.

The 15-member Council stressed the need for "a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines."

Expressing grave concern at reports of insufficient and limited access to the crash site, the Council members demanded that all military activities, including by armed groups, be "immediately ceased in the immediate area surrounding the crash site" to allow for security and safety of the international investigation.

The resolution "demands that the armed groups in control of the crash site and the surrounding area refrain from any actions that may compromise the integrity of the crash site, including by refraining from destroying, moving, or disturbing wreckage, equipment, debris, personal belongings, or remains, and immediately provide safe, secure, full and unrestricted access to the site and surrounding area for the appropriate investigating authorities."

It also called on all states and actors in the region to " cooperate fully in relation to the international investigation of the incident, including with respect to immediate and unrestricted access to the crash site."

The most powerful body of the UN demanded that "those responsible for this incident be held to account and that all states cooperate fully with efforts to establish accountability."

The resolution also specified that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would play a crucial role in aircraft accident and incident investigations.

Further, it recognized the efforts underway by Ukraine, in coordination with ICAO and other relevant international organizations and experts as well as states that lost nationals on board MH17 to convene an international investigation and called on all states to provide any assistance needed for civil and criminal investigation of the incident.

In the resolution, the Council members once again expressed their deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims of this incident and to the people and governments of the victims' countries of origin. They also insisted on the "dignified, respectful and professional treatment and recovery of the bodies of the victims."

The members of the Security Council worked over the weekend to get agreement on the draft resolution proposed by Australia. Following an urgent closed consultation on Gaza Sunday night, the Council held a late-night closed-door meeting on Ukraine.