Reactions to the MH17 tragedy

• 28 minutes ago July 20, 2014 5:54PM

The world is united in condemnation of the MH17 atrocity, with calls for action. Source: AAP

 

THE MOURNING AFTER THE DOWNING OF FLIGHT MH17 

"THE downing of MH17 was not an innocent accident, it was the outcome of a trail of human evil." - Sydney

Bishop Peter Comensoli told a packed St Mary's Catholic Cathedral at a Sunday morning Mass.

"Then the United Nations need to show some backbone for a change and actually do something to make sure this is properly investigated and actions taken against perpetrators." - Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said after calling on NATO and European nations to secure the crash site as soon as possible. 

 

"My fear is that Russia will say the right thing, but that on the ground interference with the site, interference with investigators, interference with the dignified treatment of bodies will continue. It's not too late for changes of heart. There are excuses. There is blame-shifting. There is handwashing going on, and that's not acceptable, it's simply not acceptable. - Prime Minister Tony Abbott. 

 

"The site is chaotic, it's absolutely chaotic... The grim truth is that not all the bodies will be intact." - Prime Minister Tony Abbott. 

 

"I would certainly back a move to say no, he (Putin) shouldn't be coming to the G20." - Greens leader Christine Milne.

 

 "The site is not secure, and there are multiple reports of bodies being removed, parts of the plane and other debris being hauled away, and potential evidence tampered with. This is unacceptable and an affront to all those who lost loved ones and to the dignity the victims deserve." - US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. 

 

"He was a really big part of the church, so we really feel for his parents as well as for Victor." - Pastor Alex Minchenko, on NSW victim Victor Oreshkin.

 

 "We must turn this moment of outrage into a moment of action. Action to find those who committed this crime and bring them to justice. But this goes much wider than justice. If President Putin does not change his approach on Ukraine, then Europe and the West must fundamentally change our approach to Russia." - British Prime Minister David Cameron. 

 

 "One of the crucial questions is the fate of the black boxes." - Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe spokesman Michael Bociurkiw. 

 

"We take comfort in the fact they were together and that's how they would have wanted it to be." - Jeanette Seignior of Business and Tourism East Gippsland, about Gerry and Mary Menke, who had won a business award for their abalone pearl company.

 

 "We in the northeast[of England] are a very special kind of people. We may be divided by rivalry but it seems we are united in grief." - Amanda-Jade Fowler said of her friend Liam Sweeney, 28, who was travelling to watch Newcastle United play in New Zealand with his friend John Alder, 63, who was also killed. 

 

"We have all necessary equipment to transfer the bodies but we cannot reach that area to take those bodies...We are completely open and ready to invite and to include Australian experts and we are working together." - Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. 

 

"The world's eyes will be on Russia to see if she delivers on her obligations in the next couple of hours." - British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. 

 

"The DNA data could come from blood samples or from hair on a brush in the bathroom." - Dutch National police forensics spokesman Ad Kraszewski. Dutch police were sent to visit relatives of those killed in Ukraine to collect DNA and other data for identification.