OSCE Permanent Council adopts declaration on tragic plane crash in Ukraine, calls for access to site and for an independent investigation

VIENNA, 18 July 2014 – Representatives of the OSCE’s 57 participating States at the Permanent Council today adopted a declaration on the tragic crash of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine.

In a consensus decision, all 57 participating States of the OSCE expressed their strong support to the efforts of the Trilateral Contact Group (Russia, Ukraine, OSCE) to create conditions for a sustainable ceasefire, to be agreed swiftly, and to be observed by all concerned, thus putting an end to violence in eastern Ukraine.

The Declaration also calls for immediate, safe and secure access to the site and surrounding area for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and other representatives of relevant international organizations.

It also called upon all those in the area to preserve the crash site intact, including by refraining from destroying, moving, or disturbing wreckage, equipment, debris, personal belongings, or remains.

In the Declaration, the Permanent Council also supports calls for an open, transparent and independent international investigation, in co-ordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), including with participation of technical and forensic experts from the Ukrainian, Malaysian, and Dutch governments as well as other technical and forensic experts and relevant regional bodies.

The Permanent Council called on all participating States and other actors to support the steps and to refrain from any interference with an international investigation.