EU, ASEAN call for ceasefire after MH17

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign ministers of European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said Thursday that tragedies similar to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 may occur if disputes between nations will escalate into armed conflicts.

"The Ministers agreed that the MH17 tragedy is another stark illustration of how escalation of disputes and threat to international peace and security could claim innocent lives in a tragic and senseless manner. They called on all parties to stop the senseless loss of life and to refrain from any escalatory acts," the two blocs said in a joint statement.

"The Ministers underlined the urgent need to agree on an immediate, genuine and sustainable ceasefire by all parties, and called for an end to the conflict."

The two blocs said a "swift, full and thorough, transparent and independent" international probe on the incident should be conducted.

All parties involved should also fully cooperate in the investigation to bring justice to the families of the 298 passengers killed in the crash presumably after the plane was shot down by rebels in Ukraine.

ASEAN, which includes Malaysia and the Philippines, and the European Union also insisted full access to the site of crash and surrounding areas, which should be unrestricted but secured.

"The ministers demanded that the armed groups in control of this site and the surrounding area refrain from any actions that may compromise the integrity of the crash site," the statement reads.

"The Ministers demanded all military activities, including by armed groups, be immediately ceased in the immediate area surrounding the crash site to allow for security and safety of the international investigation," it adds.

United States aviation safety experts say they are especially concerned the site will be "spoiled" if it cannot be quickly secured by investigators. Based on photographs, they say it is a very large debris field consistent with an in-flight explosion and the main evidence to be collected would be pieces of the missile.

The two politico-economic unions similarly demanded that remains of the victims should also be treated with respect and dignity and handled with professionalism. - with a report from AP