Mr. Chairman,

The 17th of July will mark 2 years since the crash of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that was shot down in the sky over eastern Ukraine killing 298 innocent people. The sad anniversary of this terrible tragedy serves us as a strong reminder of our commitment and responsibility to hold perpetrators to account.

Together with Australia, Malaysia, Ukraine and Belgium, the Netherlands formed a Joint Investigation Team to conduct the criminal investigation. We commend the Netherlands for their coordinating efforts at the Joint Investigation Team carrying out an independent, impartial and very thorough investigation. The OSCE Permanent Council Declaration of 18^th July 2014 and the UN Security Council Resolution 2166 emphasise the need to bring individuals responsible for downing MH17 to justice.

There are different options for a mechanism of the prosecution: national jurisdiction and international tribunal based on a multilateral treaty among Joint Investigation Team participating states. The treaty-based tribunal would be a preferable option, which needs to receive endorsement by the UN Security Council, and which, to our profound regret, encountered a veto by Russia in the UN Security Council last year. Ukraine will look forward to taking a decision on the mechanism of the prosecution during the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly in New York in September this year.

I will conclude by assurances that Ukraine will continue to undertake all possible efforts to secure fulfillment of the obligations under the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 2166. It remains a core interest and objective to ensure comprehensive, transparent and unbiased international investigation into the MH17 tragedy and bringing perpetrators to account.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.