BBC News
Kate Roskvist
The following Security Council Draft Resolution has been leaked to the media.
“The Security Council,
Deploring the downing of a civilian aircraft on an international flight, Air China flight CA69, on 28 November in North Waziristan, Pakistan, with the loss of all 289 passengers and crew on board,
Recalling the similar tragedy of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 and its resolution 2166 (2014).
Reaffirming the rules of international law that prohibit acts of violence that pose a threat to the safety of international civil aviation and emphasising the importance of holding those responsible for violations of these rules to account,
Stressing the need for a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines, noting in this regard the crucial role played by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in aircraft accident and incident investigations, and welcoming the decision by ICAO to send a team to work in coordination with the Chinese Civil Aviation Authority in this investigation, following a request for assistance by China to ICAO and others,
Under Chapter VII,
- Condemns in the strongest terms the downing of Air China flight CA69 on 28 November in North Waziristan, Pakistan resulting in the tragic loss of 298 lives;
- Reiterates its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims of this incident and to the people and governments of the victims’ countries of origin;
- Supports efforts to establish a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines;
- Demands that the armed groups in control of the crash site and the surrounding area refrain from any actions that may compromise the integrity of the crash site, including by refraining from destroying, moving, or disturbing wreckage, equipment, debris, personal belongings, or remains, and immediately provide safe, secure, full and unrestricted access to the site and surrounding area for the Chinese Civil Aviation Authority investigating authorities and representatives of other relevant international organisations according to ICAO and other established procedures;
- Insists on the dignified, respectful and professional treatment and recovery of the bodies of the victims, and calls upon all parties to ensure that this happens with immediate effect;
- Calls on all States and actors in the region to cooperate fully in relation to the international investigation of the incident, including with respect to immediate and unrestricted access to the crash site as referred to in paragraph 4;
- Demands that those responsible for this incident be held to account and that all States cooperate fully with efforts to establish accountability;
- Urges all parties to the Convention on International Civil Aviation to observe to the fullest extent applicable, the international rules, standards and practices concerning the safety of civil aviation, in order to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, and demands that all States and other actors refrain from acts of violence directed against civilian aircraft;
- Welcomes the full cooperation of the United Nations offered by the Secretary-General in this investigation, and requests the Secretary-General to identify possible options for United Nations support to the investigation and to report to the Security Council on relevant developments;
- Recognises that the local authorities of North Waziristan comprise of proscribed terrorist groups including Taliban and Al-Qaeda and thus their investigations should not be taken as authoritative.
- Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”
Debate this morning has centred on the addition of Clause 5:
“5. Decides to establish the United Nations Security Mission North Waziristan (UNSMNW) for an initial period of 6 months and further decides that UNSMNW will consist of up to 3,000 military personnel of the Pakistani military and an appropriate International component including up to 115 military and civilian personnel that shall:
(A) Be mandated to secure the crash site(s) of CA069 and provide protection and security for investigators at and around these …sites
(B) Be authorised to take all necessary steps to achieve the above,
(C) Be under the command, in matters of security or military operations, of the ranking Pakistani officer present and, in matters relating to the investigation, an appropriate member of the aforementioned international component;”
At this point, the Proposer, Russia has surprisingly spoken neutrally over their proposed addition. The delegate for Russia believed that although the additional clause to the Draft Resolution was an improvement, more could be done. Luxembourg also spoke neutrally on the proposed additional clause.
More to come.
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