UNITED NATIONS, September 22. /TASS/. Kiev must acknowledge the responsibility for failing to close airspace in the area where Malaysia’s flight MH17 was lost on July 17, 2014, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said at a meeting of the UN Security Council devoted to civil aviation safety on Thursday.
"Once the Ukrainian side has decided to raise the theme of Flight MH17, it would be appropriate for Kiev to begin with recognizing the responsibility for failing to close the airspace over the country’s east, where the authorities were conducting a large-scale military operation," Churkin said.
Russia’s UN envoy has also questioned the independence and impartiality of the closed probe into the loss of Malaysia’s flight MH17 over Donbass:
"It’s quite a while since then, but the criminal investigation of the disaster has not been completed to this day and it is proceeding behind closed doors," Churkin said at a meeting of the UN Security Council devoted to civil aviation safety. "It is a big question if it can be considered as independent and impartial. We’ll see."
"But hoping for this after the statements we’ve heard today from Mr. Klimkin (Ukrainian foreign minister - TASS) is ever more difficult," Churkin added.
Safe flights over Crimea and Black Sea
Ukraine is politicizing the question of flight safety over Crimea and the Black Sea. Russia can ensure it in full measure, Churkin assured.
"The Ukrainian side cannot keep from politicizing the matter, including at ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), which leads to additional expenses by air carriers; creates inconveniences to passengers and more importantly may create flight safety risks."
"It is Russia that is capable of ensuring reliable air flights over Crimea and the Black Sea in full measure," Churkin said describing as inappropriate the Ukrainian delegation’s attempts to politicize the matter.