Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Russia can still be persuaded to back MH17 tribunal

JULIE Bishop still thinks Russia can be persuaded to support a tribunal into the MH17 disaster despite previously using its UN veto to block one.

Foreign Minister of Australia Julie Bishop, addresses the 2015 Sustainable Development Summit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop still believes Russia can be convinced to support an international tribunal into the MH17 disaster ahead of a meeting of the joint investigation team tonight.

The Foreign Minister — in New York for the United Nations General Assembly — will meet with the leaders of Malaysia, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Belgium on Tuesday night (AEST) to thrash out a plan after Russia used its veto power to block a UN tribunal in July.

The Russian leader also appeared at the General Assembly, making a rare speech.

Rare appearance ... Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters for the first time in 10 years. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Ms Bishop said United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki Moon had urged her to keep pushing for an international tribunal to investigate the downing of the flight last year.

Ms Bishop said a number of other independent options were up for discussion at the investigation team’s meeting, but she was refusing to rule out returning to the Security Council in future to seek Russia’s support.

“There are a number of examples like the Lockerbie bombing model, there could be a separate national prosecution — we will discuss what potential options we can embrace,” she said.

“But I don’t rule out returning to the UN Security Council once all the reports into this crash are complete because I believe we do need UN backing if we are to achieve it.”

Ongoing investigation ... Australian Federal Police survey the crash site in eastern Ukraine. Picture: Supplied

She said she’d try to hold Russia to account on the reasons it gave for its previous veto.

“One of the concerns Russia expressed when we went to the Security Council in July was that we were proceeding to set up a tribunal before reports were completed,” Ms Bishop said.

“I didn’t accept that criticism and the time and I don’t know.

“But if Russia maintains the timing was wrong, when the timing is right we can return to the Security Council.

“I don’t intend to give up.”

Originally published as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Russia can still be persuaded to back MH17 tribunal