'It's time Russia accepted responsibility': Julie Bishop blasts Putin's dismissal of MH17 missile
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has slammed Vladimir Putin after he categorically denied Russia’s involvement in the downing of flight MH17 that killed 298 people.
On Thursday, a joint investigation from Australia and the Netherlands revealed the missile that struck the plane was from the Russian military’s 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk.
Flight MH17 was headed from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was blown out of the sky, killing all 298 passengers and crew, including 38 Australians.
However on Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin distanced Russia from the attack at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
“Certainly not,” Putin said when asked if Russia were responsible for the incident.
Bishop responded on Saturday saying: “It’s time Russia accepted responsibility” for the missile.
“It is time Russia stopped its campaign of misinformation, it is time Russia accepted responsibility,” she told Sunrise.
“There is overwhelming evidence, and it should open dialogue with the grieving nations, including Australia, the Netherlands, and others.”
Bishop urged for other nations to band together in an attempt to make Russia take responsibility for the missile.
“Its conduct is unacceptable and that this was a complete and utter disregard for international norms and standards, and to deploy a sophisticated, advanced military weapon to bringdown to plane is a security threat.
“It is not acceptable.”
She said the two countries requested Russia “enter into negotiations to open up a dialogue about its conduct and to seek reparations”.
The Russian defence ministry claimed the missile “more than likely” came from a Ukrainian arsenal as the fragments displayed by investigators indicated the Soviet-made missile was produced in 1986.
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It said the Russian military decommissioned all missiles of that type in 2011.
The European Union and NATO have urged Russia to admit its role in the attack.
“The European Union calls on the Russian Federation to accept its responsibility and to fully co-operate with all efforts to establish accountability,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.
“The downing of MH17 was a global tragedy and those responsible must be held accountable,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
With AAP.
