By P. Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia's prime minister stressed the need to hold those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 to account during a visit by his Dutch counterpart Wednesday.
"Malaysia is committed to bring the perpetrators of MH17 to justice, and we must do everything possible to ensure that justice is done," Najib Razak said at a joint press conference after meeting Mark Rutte.
Criticizing how international investigation teams had not been given safe access to the crash site near Ukraine’s eastern border due to continuous cross-fire between government forces and pro-Russian rebels, Najib said Malaysia has "preliminary knowledge of what took place" but needs concrete evidence.
"The utmost priority now is to retrieve the wreckage. Without the wreckage, we cannot determine the cause of the incident,” he stressed, adding their awareness of the need to collaborate with the Netherlands and Australia for the purpose.
The ill-fated Kuala Lumpur-bound flight from Amsterdam was shot down July 17 above troubled Donetsk state, killing all 298 passengers and crew onboard.
Alongside 43 Malaysians, the passengers had included 193 Dutch citizens and 27 Australians.
Meanwhile, Dutch PM Rutte - who flew to Kuala Lumpur via Malaysia Airlines flight MH19 - said it was still too early to determine the crash’s cause.
He dismissed suggestions the case should be brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as unlikely, saying, " we do not believe the ICC is the most suitable."
He explained that after an investigation by the Dutch Transport Safety Board, public prosecutors would decide on which tribunal will proceed with the case.
Regarding his flight choice, Rutte said: "Obviously, there is a special meaning as MH19 flies the same route and schedule as MH17 did, but it was only logical to take this flight since it is the best connection between Amsterdam and KL."
Later in the day, Rutte is scheduled to head to Australia for talks with Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
www.aa.com.tr/en
