On 21 July the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution on the Malaysia Airlines flight downed over the territory of Ukraine. The tragic plane crash took place on 17 May in the Donetsk region, which currently is under separatist control.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims, and to the people and Governments of all those killed in the crash in Eastern Ukraine on 17 July of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Mr. President,

We are deeply shocked by the yesterday’s downing of the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 in Eastern Ukraine. We express our most sincere condolences to Malaysia, the Netherlands, Australia, Indonesia, UK, Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, Canada and other nations whose citizens were among the 295 people who perished. Our deepest sympathies go to the families of the victims.

At the Security Council briefing on the Post-conflict peacebuilding Lithuania expressed its support to the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Support Office for their support of durable peace and development. National institution building, national ownership and empowerment of women were highlighted as crucial elements for sustainable peace-building.

Source: UN Photo/Mark Garten

In its explanation of vote on the Resolution 2165 on humanitarian situation in Syria, Lithuania stressed that when a government is no longer in a position to guarantee the safety and the basic needs of its citizens, it must not stand in the way of international relief organizations to do so. Over the last three years this crucial principle has been repeatedly violated, in particular by the Syrian government.

The Council should respond to massive and brutal violations of human rights, some of which can be characterized as war crimes and crimes against humanity, including by referring the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.