PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will work closely with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on drawing up a possible time frame and possible areas for re-entry to the MH17 crash site.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the Malaysian delegation in Kiev, Ukraine, has already been briefed by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission head Ertugul Apakan on the current situation in eastern Ukraine, specifically with regards to the crash site.
“Apakan has reaffirmed his commitment to assist the international team to gain early safe access to the crash site.
“In the joint meeting with the Combined Joint International Task Force (CIJTF), we have agreed to work together on the likely time frame and possible areas for re-entry,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Hishammuddin said he also had a discussion with Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman on possible re-entry into the crash site.
Hishammuddin having a discussion with the Combined International Joint Task Force (CIJTF) of the MH17 Mission.
“Groysman is committed to assist the international team in gaining safe access to the crash site.
“During the meeting, Groysman and myself recognised the urgency of obtaining as much evidence as possible and recover the remaining bodies from the crash site due to the onset of winter,” he said.
He added that Groysman fully supported the efforts of the Netherlands, Australia and Malaysia towards resumption of the search, recovery and investigation operations at the crash site.
“I also took this opportunity to give an update on the search and recovery efforts for MH370 to Groysman as there were Ukrainian nationals on board the missing flight,” he said.
Hishammuddin, who is on a working trip to Ukraine, said he along with Ukraine Defence Minister Valeriy Heletey, shared similar views on the need to conduct a final comb of the crash site as soon as possible before winter sets in.
“In order to enhance military-to-military cooperation, I have also decided that a defence attaché from the Malaysian Defence Ministry will be posted to Ukraine in the near future.
“I also had the liberty of meeting with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin who reasserted his commitment on matters agreed upon by Ukraine vice Prime Minister and Defence Minister pertaining to the MH17 incident,” he said.
Hishammuddin revealed that he would be departing to Moscow, Russia with the delegation to meet with their counterparts.
“I will be meeting with Russia’s deputy Foreign Minister and the Russian Defence Minister, Army General S. Shogyu has been arranged for tomorrow,” he said.
-thestar
