(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
The Netherlands has taken control of the investigation into the crash of Malaysia Airlines MH17, apparently shot down in eastern Ukraine last week.
It follows the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution condemning the downing of the plane, and demanding armed groups guarantee investigators access to the site.
Marina Freri reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
About two thirds of the 298 people who died when Malaysia Airlines MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine were Dutch nationals.
39 Australian citizens and residents shared the same fate.
With bodies recovered from the crash site now arriving in the Netherlands, the Dutch government has assumed a leading role in identifying what exactly happened in the sky over Donetsk.
Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans says Australia will also play a crucial role in the investigation.
"This will now enable us to take up the full responsibility for the investigation but it goes without saying that the Netherlands will do this within a broad international team and we especially highly value the cooperation with Australia."
Over 100 coffins have so far been flown to the Netherlands, where they were also met by Australian representatives.
But human remains and more wreckage are still being found at the crash site, where armed separatists continue to control access to the area.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe is acting as an intermediary with the militants to ensure Australian police officials can secure the crash site.
There are reports an Australian Federal Police officer has already inspected the site with a team of Australian diplomats and Malaysian aviation officials.
But Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she hopes - with the Netherlands now officially in charge of the investigation - the site near the Russian border will be secured within days.
"As a result of the discussions today, as a result of the Netherlands signing the agreement that transfers responsibility for the investigation to them, as a result of our discussions with the OSCE, I feel confident that we now have a legal framework in place whereby the operations can begin in earnest."
Australian opposition leader Bill Shorten, who is in the US for business talks, has also spoken of his relief now that the Dutch government is leading the crash investigation.
Speaking from New York, Mr Shorten has reiterated the need for AFP personnel to access the area where the MH17 went down.
"It's most important that we identify the victims, that we can bring their bodies home. It is most important that we have a full, transparent and international investigation. But of course it is important also that our police personnel are able to carry out this work, working with the Netherlands and other nations in a safe and secure manner."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says 50 AFP officers remain on standby in London.
Mr Abbott says he has spoken to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin about safe access for the Australian police, who will be tasked with securing the crash site for the investigators.
"President Putin gave me assurances that he wanted to see the families of the victims satisfied, he wanted to see, as a father himself, grieving families given closure and, as I say, so far he's been as good as his word and we want to ensure he has a further opportunity to be as good as his word."
But for the family of one of the Australian victims, waiting has just become too painful.
Perth-based George and Angela Dyczynski say they are travelling towards the crash site in Ukraine, as they want to search for their 25 year old daughter Fatima.
They say they're not concerned about their safety, despite Mr Abbott's warning against travelling to the area.
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