Countries affected by jet crash call for transparency

Monitoring Desk

LONDON: Senior officials from Afghanistan, Canada, Ukraine, Sweden and the UK met in London on Thursday to discuss the urgency of support for the families of those affected in the Ukrainian airliner crash in Tehran on January 8 in which all 176 people on board were killed.

The response group for the families of victims of flight PS752 agreed to a framework for cooperation with Iran in response to this tragedy to provide accountability, transparency and justice for the families and loved ones of all the victims, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

According to the statement, the framework is centered on the five following elements:

Full and unhindered access to and within Iran to provide consular services.

A victim identification process conducted with dignity, transparency and according to international standards that respects the wishes of families regarding repatriation.

A thorough, independent and transparent international investigation open to grieving nations governed by the Convention of International Civil Aviation.

That the government of Iran assumes full responsibility for this tragedy and recognizes its duties towards the families of the victims – including compensation.

Accountability for those responsible though an independent criminal investigation followed by transparent and impartial judicial proceedings that conform to international standards of due process and human rights.

“We welcome the Government of Iran’s engagement to date and encourage their continued cooperation,” the statement concluded.

According to the Afghan government, 13 Afghan nationals are among those killed in the airliner crash.(TOLOnews)