22.07.2014

EPP Foreign Affairs Ministers express their condolences to the families of the MH17 passengers

Following the EPP Foreign Affairs Ministerial meeting held this morning in Brussels, prior to the Council meeting, the co-chairs of the EPP Foreign Ministers, Elmar Brok and Radek Sikorski, made the following statement:

“The crash of the Malaysian Airlines flight is an immense tragedy, and we would like to send our deepest condolences to the families and the relatives of the victims. An independent international investigation must be conducted without delay and without restrictions.

Wherever the responsibilities for the crash lie, this catastrophe underlines the fact that the militia and rebels in the eastern regions of Ukraine have access to sophisticated weapons. It is now time for Russia to show its credibility by stopping the flow of arms into Ukraine. The full and effective control of the border by the Ukrainian authorities with the assistance from the OSCE must be ensured. Moreover, Russia has to actively use its influence over the illegally armed groups for the achievement of that goal.

Failure to do so will cause Russia to lose any credibility as to whether it is interested in a peaceful political solution. This must lead to further sanctions.

In this time of crisis in our entire neighbourhood, EU needs experienced leaders that reflect our regional diversity.”

Note to editors:

The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 73 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, 12 EU and 6 non-EU heads of state and government and the largest Group in the European Parliament.

For more information:
Kostas Sasmatzoglou, EPP Spokesman, Tel. +32-2-2854147
Javier Jiménez, EPP Director of Press and Communications, Tel. +32-475480446