(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The United States welcomes the news that most of the remains of those who perished in Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, as well as the black boxes, are now in the hands of Dutch and Malaysian authorities, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Tuesday.
"While that is one step in the right direction, international investigators led by the Dutch still need immediate and full access to the site," Earnest said during a briefing. "Russia did say today that it will use its influence over the (Ukrainian) separatists to get them to fully cooperate, and we intend to hold the Russians to that." "I do not think we have seen yet the level of cooperation with international investigators that we would like to see to this point," he added. "This is a complicated issue, and one we anticipate is going to require some work." President Barack Obama on Tuesday visited the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington and signed the condolence book there. The Netherlands lost more people among the 298 who perished in the shooting down of Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine than any other country.
As he was leaving the embassy, the President said, "Obviously we are all heartbroken," and "I extend on behalf of all the American people our deepest condolences." Obama said he wanted to "express our solidarity with the people of the Netherlands," and added that "we will work with them to make sure their loved ones are recovered and justice" is done.
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