Bodies of Malaysians, black boxes will be returned to us: Najib

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak early this morning said an agreement had been reached for the remains of 282 people downed in a Malaysian passenger plane last week to be handed over to the Netherlands, the plane’s black boxes handed over to Malaysia, and independent international investigators guaranteed safe access to the crash site.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Najib said he had spoken with pro-Russian separatist leader Alexander Borodai, who is in command of the Ukrainian region where the tragedy occurred, over the phone.

“In recent days, we have been working behind the scenes to establish contact with those in charge of the MH17 crash site. That contact has now been made,” he said.

As part of the agreement, the bodies being kept on a refrigerated train in the nearby town of Torez would be moved to Kharkiv, where they were to be handed over to representatives from the Netherlands later Monday in Ukraine (this morning, Singapore time).

The remains will then be flown to Amsterdam on board a Dutch C130 Hercules, together with a six-member Malaysian team, for forensic work.

The remains of the 43 Malaysian citizens will then be flown home to Malaysia. Later this morning Singapore time, the plane’s black boxes were to be handed over to a Malaysian team in Donetsk, Mr Najib said.

Independent international investigators will also be guaranteed safe access to the crash site to begin a full investigation of the incident.

“I must stress that although agreement has been reached, there remain a number of steps required before it is completed,” he said.

Mr Najib called on all parties to continue to work together to ensure the agreement is honoured.

“My heart reaches out to those whose loved ones were lost on MH17. We hope and pray that the agreement reached tonight helps bring them a clear step towards closure,” he said

Minutes before Mr Najib spoke, United States President Barack Obama sternly denounced Russia and the separatists it supports in Ukraine for blocking access to the site where plane was brought down, declaring that “time is of the essence” to recover bodies and evidence.

Mr Obama, speaking at the White House, said rebels had blocked investigators from the scene, fired their guns in the air, removed physical evidence and failed to turn over the bodies they had collected.

“All of which begs the question: What exactly are they trying to hide?” he asked. In some cases bodies were removed from the scene without due respect, he added. “It’s the kind of behaviour that has no place in the community of nations.”

The standoff over the crash site has reinforced American suspicions that Russians played a direct role in assisting separatists who fired the missile or perhaps pulled the trigger themselves.

“Our immediate focus is on recovering those who were lost, investigating exactly what happened and putting forward the facts we have to make sure the truth is out, that accountability exists,” Mr Obama said.

He singled out Russian President Vladimir Putin as responsible for the chaotic situation at the crash scene. “He has direct responsibility to compel (the separatists) to cooperate with the investigation,” said Mr Obama.

The United Nations was also due to vote overnight on a resolution that would condemn the downing of the plane, demand that those responsible be held accountable and that armed groups do not compromise the crash site’s integrity.

While Russia engaged in negotiations with the 15-member council on the resolution — drafted by Australia, which lost 28 citizens — it was unclear if it would support the final version, said diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The vote was held at 3am today, Singapore time. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Canberra would view a Russian veto of the resolution “very badly”, adding that “no reasonable person” could object to its wording. AGENCIES