Ukrainian delegation in Tehran: We will not accept receiving money in exchange for covering up the truth
The head of the Ukrainian delegation, who traveled to Tehran for the second round of negotiations regarding the case of the downing of Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 by IRGC missiles, told Radio Farda that they had told Iranian officials that they would not accept any payment in exchange for covering up the truth under any circumstances.
According to Ukrainian diplomats, Ukraine's goal in the second round of negotiations with Iran regarding the Flight 752 case was to examine a variety of technical, military, and criminal issues, as well as to use international legal documents to clarify the details of the downing of the Ukrainian plane.
On Monday, October 19, the military and technical working groups held consultations on the issue, and on Tuesday morning, the judicial working group convened. The results of these consultations were presented during a general meeting of the two delegations, headed by Yevgeny Yenin and Mohsen Baharvand, deputy foreign ministers of Ukraine and Iran.
In this regard, Yevgeny Yenin told Radio Farda: "We have clearly told the Iranian side that our main goal is not to receive compensation, but to reach the truth. Under no circumstances will we accept receiving money in exchange for covering up the truth. First, we must know the truth, and then, depending on the details of the events that led to the downing of the Ukrainian plane, we will calculate the compensation."
Mr. Yenin also emphasized that this goal is not only his as the head of the Ukrainian delegation, but also the demand of the affected families.
Some relatives of the victims of Flight 752 gathered on Tuesday in front of the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Center for Political and International Studies, the venue for the talks, demanding justice and a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation.
Mohsen Baharvand, the chief Iranian negotiator who met with relatives of the Ukrainian victims in Tehran on Tuesday, rejected the accusation of lying and said that it was not within his authority to clarify the ambiguities surrounding the downing of the Ukrainian plane.
The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister also claimed once again that Flight 752 was shot down due to "human error" and that the Islamic Republic is trying to convince the Ukrainian side of this.
Both Canada and Ukraine have repeatedly said they do not accept this narrative.
At the end of the talks in Tehran, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Yevgeny Yenin, expressed hope that Iran's final report would be completed in accordance with international regulations.
He also welcomed Tehran's readiness to pay equal compensation to all victims of the accident, regardless of their nationality.
On Tuesday, an Iranian government spokesman announced that compensation payments to the relatives of the victims of the downing of the Ukrainian plane will be made based on fair international customs and procedures and without discrimination.
Ali Rabiei also announced the separation of the criminal aspects of this case from the legal and compensation aspects, adding that the military prosecution is investigating and that upon completion of the investigation, an indictment will be issued and referred to the military court.
Radio Farda's sources among Ukrainian negotiators say that Iran's position during the second round of negotiations was different from its approach in previous months, and if all promises are fulfilled, the issues surrounding this case will be resolved through dialogue.
After the Ukrainian delegation returns to Kyiv, the parties will exchange documents containing their understanding of the results of the negotiations, which will serve as the legal basis for the continuation of the negotiations. The next round of these negotiations will be held in a month with the participation of other relevant countries.
A Ukrainian plane with 176 passengers was shot down by two IRGC air defense missiles on January 8, killing all Iranian and non-Iranian passengers.
Source: Radio Farda
