Volodymyr Hroysman, Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister, Head of the government taskforce for MH17 crash investigation during his media briefing in Ukraine Crisis Media Center reported on the work of the government taskforce dealing with investigation of the Malaysian airplane crash which is being qualified as a terrorist act by Ukrainian side, and stated: «Our primary task is entering the territory of the plane crash as fast as possible as well as providing the International special committee with a possibility to investigate directly on site. Besides, there are sufficient suspicions that body parts may still remain at that crash area. We undertake each and every effort to get there, but we repeatedly face provocative and forceful resistance, including the one from the Russian Federation side – firings, non-admission to the territory etc.».
As Mr. Hroysman informed: «the President of Ukraine is taking measures on mobilizing the international community to halt these provocations and enable experts to start working at the territory where the tragedy happened. Today a clear-cut plan has been developed and it will allow us to make another attempt to access territory».
Volodymyr Hroysman reiterated that, following the order of the President of Ukraine, in order to secure access to the site of the International expert mission, Ukrainian side is not and will not be take any military actions within 20 km zone around Boeing 777 crash site.
«From our side we guarantee that there was not nor will be a single shot at the area where investigative activities, movement and accommodation of the Investigation committee takes place», – he emphasized.
Also the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine emphasized: «OSCE experts play the leading role in this investigation. We are cooperating with OSCE experts as well as our colleagues from the Netherlands, Australia and other international partners. We are open for cooperation and would like experts from Malaysian side to get deeper involved into the investigation process».
Ertugrul Apakan, Chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, stated: «We are closely cooperating with Ukrainian authorities. The President of Ukraine set a task to all the responsible authorities to provide OSCE Special mission with every support. Legal and investigatory actions will be conducted jointly by the experts from the Netherlands and Australia. We will be maintaining constant communication with the President of Ukraine and other departments involved in the investigation to share the findings. Nevertheless, the most important task for International special investigation committee is obtaining access to territory of the airplane crash. I do hope it will happen in the nearest future».
Mr. Hroysman also informed that yesterday he himself and Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs signed another part of agreement envisaging conducting joint actions to investigate the causes of the tragedy. Verkhovna Rada is expected to ratify this agreement as well as other agreements on Thursday, July 31, 2014.
