Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans Gives Perfect Response To Horror Of MH17

Amid the recriminations and blame that has descended into a Cold War of words between Russia and the West over the downing of flight MH17, the victims have been robbed of their dignity, laid bare in this powerful speech by the Dutch Foreign Minister. Pausing at times to contain his emotion, Frans Timmermans spoke to the United Nations of his shock at the treatment of the bodies, the indignity of the news coverage, and the obfuscation of the details of the crash. "We're here to discuss a tragedy, the downing of a commercial airliner, and the death of 298 innocent people," he said. "Men, women and a staggering number of children lost their lives on their way to holiday destinations, their homes, loved ones or international obligations, such as the important HIV/AIDS conference in Australia. "Since Thursday, I've been thinking, how horrible it must have been, the final moments of their lives, when they knew the plane was going down. "Did they lock hands with their loved ones, did they hold their children close to their hearts? (trembles) Did they look each other in the eyes, one final time, in a wordless goodbye? We will never know. see video