World reacts to Malaysia plane crash
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 18, 2014
A Malaysian airliner crashed over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 298 people aboard.
The crash of the MH17 was shrouded in mystery of a deliberate attack, with Kiev trading accusations of blame with separatists and Moscow.
The United States has concluded a missile shot down the plane, but hasn't pinpointed who was responsible, a senior U.S. official told CNN.
A radar system saw a surface-to-air missile system turn on and track an aircraft right before the plane went down, the senior U.S. official said. A second system saw a heat signature at the time the airliner was hit, the official said. The United States is analyzing the trajectory of the missile to try to learn where the attack came from, the official said.
The Obama administration believes Ukraine did not have the capability in the region -- let alone the motivation -- to shoot down the plane, a U.S. official told CNN... [Full story]
US urges immediate ceasefire in Ukraine for probe of airliner crash
The United State on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine to facilitate the probe of a doomed Malaysian airliner.
"We urge all concerned -- Russia, the pro-Russian separatists, and Ukraine -- to support an immediate ceasefire in order to ensure safe and unfettered access to the crash site for international investigators and in order to facilitate the recovery of remains," the White House said.... [Full story]
Putin calls for immediate peace in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis as soon as possible after a Malaysian flight crash that killed all the 298 people aboard, the Kremlin press service said Friday.
"The Russian head of state noted that this tragedy confirmed once again the need for soonest peaceful settlement of the acutest crisis in Ukraine and noted that all details of the air crash should be investigated thoroughly and unbiasedly," the Kremlin press service said. [Full story]
Malaysian PM: Perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Friday at a press conference that the MH17's flight route was declared safe by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), adding that the International Air Transportation Association had stated that the airspace the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions.
He also said the Malaysia Airlines had confirmed that the plane did not make a distress call.
He said that while the Ukrainian authorities believed that the plane was shot down, Malaysia was unable to verify the cause of the tragedy at the current early stage.
"But we must and we will find out precisely what happened to this flight," he said, adding that "if it transpires that the plane was indeed shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice."
Najib said he also received a call from U.S. President Barack Obama, and they agreed that "the investigation must not be hindered in anyway."
"An international team must have full access to the crash site, " he said, adding that "no one should interfere with the area, or move any debris, including the black box." .... [Full story]
China's reactions to MH17 plane crash
China sends its deepest condolences to the victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 tragedy and hopes the cause will be found out as soon as possible, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on July 18.
A Boeing 777 of Malaysia Airlines crashed near eastern Ukraine Thursday, killing 298 people on board.
"We are shocked at the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in the eastern part of Ukraine and express deep condolences to the victims as well as sincere sympathy to their families. We hope that the cause will be found out as soon as possible," spokesman Qin Gang said....[Full story]
Ban expresses condolences after Malaysia plane crash
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his condolences following today's crash of a Malaysia Airlines plane in Ukraine, and called for a full investigation into the disaster.
"I am closely monitoring the reports, along with the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency. There is clearly a need for a full and transparent international investigation," Mr. Ban told reporters at UN Headquarters. I offer my deep condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims and people of Malaysia....[Full story]
Obama offers condolences to Malaysians over airliner crash
U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday expressed condolences to the people of Malaysia for the crash of a Malaysian airliner in Ukraine, as well as all the families who lost loved ones in the tragic event.
In a telephone talk, Obama told Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak that the United States had offered immediate assistance to support a prompt international investigation, the White House said in a statement.
Obama also reaffirmed the strength of the friendship between the United States and Malaysia and underscored that the United States stands ready to provide any assistance or support necessary, it added....[Full story]
EU leaders express condolences over Malaysian flight crash
European leaders on Thursday expressed deepest condolences to the governments of the Netherlands, Malaysia and all other affected nations, and the families of the victims of the Malaysian flight crash.
A joint statement made by the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, was published on the official website.
"We are shocked by the crash of the Malaysian airliner in Ukraine and the tragic loss of so many lives. Citizens from many nationalities including from the European Union have been killed," it said....[Full story]
France demands 'truth' on Malaysia plane crash
French President Francois Hollande required to take all measures to uncover the truth of the plane crash of Malaysia Airlines, according to a statement released by the Elysee Thursday.
Hollande said that he learned with great emotion that an airplane from Malaysia Airlines, making the trip from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed on Ukrainian soil.
"France demands that everything is implemented, to shed light on the circumstances that caused this tragedy," said Hollande. "I express my solidarity with the relatives of the passengers in the event." ....[Full story]
Obama, Putin talk about downed Malaysian plane
U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday talked about the reports of a downed Malaysian passenger jet near the Russia- Ukraine border, the White House said.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that Obama and Putin spoke on Thursday morning at Moscow's request about the new sanctions against Russia and near the end of the call, the leaders noted the early reports about the plane crash....[Full story]
Malaysia to work with Russia, Ukraine on MH17
Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said Friday that his ministry was working closely with the Russian and Ukraine governments on reports that a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane had crashed in Ukraine, according to Bernama, Malaysia's state news agency.
"We are working closely with both governments to get information," he said, adding, "currently we have some of the information, only waiting to be verified." ....[Full story]
Obama stresses 'unimpeded' probe of Malaysian air crash
The United States is prepared to contribute immediate assistance to support a "prompt, full, credible, and unimpeded" international investigation into the Malaysian airliner crash, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday.
In a telephone conversation on Thursday evening, Obama and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed that international investigators should have immediate access to the crash site of the doomed airliner in order to facilitate the recovery of remains and carry out a thorough investigation, the White House said in a statement.
In the talks, Obama expressed his condolences to the people of the Netherlands for the tragic death of Dutch citizens traveling on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, said the statement....[Full story]
Putin: Ukraine bears responsibility
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Ukraine bore responsibility for the downing of a passenger plane in the country's east, saying it would not have happened if Kiev had not resumed a military campaign against separatists.
"This tragedy would not have happened, if there had been peace on that land, or in any case if military operations in southeastern Ukraine had not been renewed," he said in televised comments.
"And without doubt the government of the territory on which it happened bears responsibility for this frightening tragedy," he said, adding that he had urged the Russian authorities to do everything possible to help with the investigation into the incident.
"We will do everything that we can so that an objective pictured of what happened can be achieved," Putin said. "This is a completely unacceptable thing."
Evidence from Malaysian jet crash must stay in Ukraine
Evidence from the crash of Malaysian airliner must stay in Ukraine before it is investigated, U.S. President Barack Obama and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in their telephone conversation Thursday.
"The Presidents emphasized that all evidence from the crash site must remain in place on the territory of Ukraine until international investigators are able to examine all aspects of the tragedy," said a statement issued by the White House summarizing the talk between the leaders....[Full story]
UN Security Council to meet on Friday on Ukraine
The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Ukraine on Friday and is mulling a draft statement calling for "a full, thorough and independent international investigation" into what caused the crash of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine.
The British-drafted statement, reviewed by Reuters, stressed the need for "all parties to grant immediate access by investigators to the crash site to determine the cause of the incident." The Malaysia Airlines jet was carrying 295 people....[Full story]
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks of 'unspeakable crime'
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has described as a "terrible tragedy" the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that has claimed the lives of as many as 27 Australians.
Speaking on radio on Friday morning, Abbott said it seemed certain that the Malaysia Airlines plane had been "shot down," saying if this was the case it would be an "unspeakable crime."
"If it does turn out that this aircraft was brought down by a surface-to-air missile, there is no doubt this would be,under those circumstances, an unspeakable crime and the perpetrators should swiftly be brought to justice," he said....[Full story]
Biden: It was not an accident
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday it appeared that the downing of a Malaysian airliner near the Ukraine-Russia border was not an accident and that the passenger jet apparently was "blown out of the sky."
"This is truly a grave situation," Biden said in a speech in Detroit.
Dutch foreign minister: Black day for the Netherlands
Emergency responders must be given "unhindered and safe" access to the site where a Malaysia Airlines jet carrying at least 154 Dutch citizens crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, the Dutch foreign minister said.
"This is a very black day for the Netherlands," said Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans, adding that there needed to be an independent investigation into the crash.
US stocks fall on Malaysia Airlines crash
U.S. stocks sank on Thursday, with the S&P 500 posting its biggest one-day percentage drop since April 10 on news that a Malaysian Airlines passenger jet crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border.
Investors sold stocks in a move to avoid risk and poured money into safe-haven investments like gold and U.S. government bonds as the crash stoked concerns that the conflict in Ukraine might widen after U.S. sanctions against Russia were announced late Wednesday.
Merkel calls for investigation
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday called for an independent, international investigation into the downing of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine.
Indian PM condoles loss of lives
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday condoled the loss of lives in the Malaysian plane crash in Ukraine Thursday.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives on board Flight MH17. We stand with them in this hour of grief," Modi tweeted. [Full story]
World's top AIDS experts among MH17 victims
Some of the world's top AIDS experts, bound for an international conference in Melbourne, Australia, were among those killed in Malaysian Airlines MH17 crash, the International AIDS Society (IAS) announced on Friday.
In a statement on its website, IAS said the loss of so many lives was a deep tragedy.
"IAS expresses its sincere sadness at receiving news that a number of colleagues and friends en route to attend the 20th International AIDS Conference taking place in Melbourne, Australia, were on board the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight that has crashed over Ukraine earlier today," the statement said. [Full story]
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