Australia pushes for UN vote on MH17 tribunal
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will push for a
unanimous United Nations Security Council vote to set up an independent
tribunal into the downing of Flight MH17, a media report said Tuesday.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald as she arrived in New
York for three days of lobbying and closed door meetings with Russia and its
allies before the vote later this week, Bishop said a veto by Russia would deny
justice to the 298 people killed when the plane was shot down over Ukraine,
reports dpa.
"We cannot allow a veto in the United Nations Security
Council to avoid justice," Bishop told the newspaper.
"We owe it to the families to pursue those responsible,
we owe it to those who are still suffering and grieving over the loss of their
loved ones aboard MH17. They will not have closure in their lives until this
matter is completed."
She rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's earlier
remarks that it was "premature" and "counterproductive" for
the UN to vote on an independent tribunal.
"If that were Russia's concern, then I would expect
that Russia would abstain, but I will be advocating for a unanimous
resolution," she said. That would require all 15 members to support the
vote.
"Justice delayed is justice denied. We owe it to the
families and the loved ones of those who died on MH17 to pursue the criminal
investigation as soon as possible.
"Any further delay sends a very bad message to the
increasing number of non-state actors who are capable of such an atrocity. The
international community needs to be utterly united in condemning any attack on
civilian airlines in commercial airspace."
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