Canada’s Foreign Minister: The World Awaits Iran’s Proper Response and Will Not Rest
Canada’s Foreign Minister promised today in London that Iran will be “pressured” to answer for the “exact cause” of the Ukrainian plane’s downing. He emphasized: “The world awaits an answer and will not rest until a proper response is received.”
Foreign ministers of five countries whose citizens were killed when Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards fired two missiles at a Ukrainian aircraft met today on December 26 (January 16) to pressure Tehran to conduct “complete and transparent” investigations into this tragedy.
François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Foreign Minister, at this joint meeting called for transparent investigations based on international aviation laws and said that today a draft was prepared in five articles aimed at ensuring free access to documents and evidence of the incident in Iran as well as identifying victims.
Referencing that the Islamic Republic of Iran has accepted full responsibility for the incident, he stressed that “only transparent and complete investigations” can determine the actual causes and reasons for this tragedy.
According to Agence France-Presse, he said in another part of his remarks: “Now the families of the deceased want answers, the international community also awaits answers, and we will not rest until we receive these answers.”
He added that by pressuring Tehran, he will seek the “exact cause” of the incident, identification of those responsible, and justice for the families of the victims.
Five Countries’ Statement on Accountability and Compensation
The Associated Press also reported from London that the foreign ministers of Canada, Britain, Sweden, Ukraine, and Afghanistan’s acting foreign affairs officer today, as representatives of their governments, issued a statement calling on Tehran to “accept full responsibility” for the downing of the Ukrainian aircraft and pay compensation to the families of the victims.
Before their joint meeting, they lit candles at Trafalgar Square in London in memory of their citizens who were passengers on this flight and the crew members of the Ukrainian aircraft who lost their lives.
“Comprehensive, Transparent and Independent International Investigation”
Earlier, Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, called for a “comprehensive, transparent and independent international investigation” into this tragedy. The Canadian government also issued a statement calling for an “official investigation” in this regard.
Canadian Investigators Ready
Marc Garneau, Canada’s Minister of Transport, announced yesterday the dispatch of two investigators from his country as part of an international team to Iran and said that the level of cooperation has been good.
He simultaneously called for Canada’s formal participation in the investigation process.
Referencing that the black box of this flight is in Iran’s possession, Mr. Garneau announced that two other Canadian special investigators for this case are ready to examine the black box data at any time and any location.
A Boeing 737 of Ukraine International Airlines on December 18 (January 8) crashed as a result of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards firing two ballistic missiles, minutes after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport, killing all 176 passengers and crew on board.
Iranian officials initially claimed a technical malfunction caused the Ukrainian aircraft to crash over Tehran’s sky, but after evidence and documents confirming Iran’s claims were refuted, Revolutionary Guards officials, after a three-day delay, said the aircraft was “unintentionally” targeted by a Revolutionary Guards air defense missile. However, a newly released video shows the aircraft was downed by two missiles.
The video shows that the Revolutionary Guards air defense, contrary to statements by Islamic Republic officials, fired two missiles with a 30-second time interval at the said aircraft.
The authenticity of this video, which was circulated on social networks, has been confirmed by The New York Times.
Source: DW
