Flight recorders, retrieved from the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet's crash scene outside Tehran, are yet to be sent to France, says Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Enin.
"Black boxes have not been sent to France yet. As of today, we have another promise from the Iranian side to do this on July 20. A couple of days ago we received from the French authorities their consent to accept two of our experts who will participate in the process as members of the technical investigation group," Enin told Ukraine 24 TV channel.
"The parties that suffered losses as a result of the crash have finally agreed on their positions and approaches to the process of negotiations with the Iranian side to hold Iran accountable and as regards compensation the victims' families," the senior diplomat said. "The Ukrainian side also aims to ensure that UIA gets compensation."
Besides, Enin elaborated on when the issue of compensation to families of Ukrainians who were killed in a plane hit by an Iranian missile will be discussed.
"At this stage, technical investigation has not yet been completed. If it confirms the fact of unlawful interference, it will be possible to proceed to the second phase of the negotiation process and more specifically discuss the volume of compensation. It's still too early to talk about something," he said.
UNIAN memo. Kyiv-bound Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS752 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport in the early hours of January 8. It was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. Two passengers and the crew members were Ukrainians. There were also 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom each. There were no survivors.
On January 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially admitted that the Ukrainian airliner had been shot down by accident as a result of a "human error" and that those responsible would be held accountable.
Member countries of the International Coordination and Response Group for Flight PS752 Victims have repeatedly demanded that Iran hand over "black boxes" of the plane to the group.
