KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be participating in the deliberation by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on the joint legal action filed by Australia and the Netherlands against Russia on the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
In a statement today, the Transport Ministry said the decision to participate in the deliberation by ICAO was in accordance with the Chicago Convention.
The ministry reiterates its commitment to a judicial process that is conducted transparently under international law against parties responsible for the horrific tragedy that took place in July 2014.
"Malaysia is committed to seeking justice for the families of the victims including 43 Malaysians on board the aircraft. We are equally committed to ensuring that the process is transparent, credible and conclusive.
"Our approach has always been that conclusions must be based on evidence," said the statement.
The ministry also urges all states and parties involved to fully cooperate with the trial in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2166 (2014).
"A thorough and exhaustive process of law must be pursued in bringing the perpetrators of this inhumane crime to justice in order to honour the victims and the next-of-kin of MH17," said the statement.
It was reported on March 14 that Australia and Netherlands have begun a joint legal action against Russia, under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation over the downing of MH17.
The legal action was reported to be separate to a Dutch murder trial for four suspects over their criminal responsibility.
The two countries were reported to rely on evidence that the plane was shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile system transported from Russia to an area of eastern Ukraine, and that it was under the control of Russian-backed separatists, who were accompanied by a Russian military crew.
Moscow has always denied any involvement and has promoted a range of alternative theories, which international investigators have rejected as unsupported by evidence.
A verdict in the murder trial, involving three Russians and a Ukrainian who remains at large, is expected later this year.