Belgium examines possibility of sending forensic experts to Ukraine
Belgium wants to send experts to Ukraine, to gather evidence on possible Russian war crimes. "A first step to ensure that barbarians can be prosecuted," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told reporters on Tuesday during a visit of his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte in Ghent.
Both Prime Minister De Croo and his Dutch colleague Rutte want to do everything in their power to prevent impunity. Both countries therefore support the investigation by the International Criminal Court and the commission of enquiry set up by the UN Human Rights Council. The latter plays a key role in gathering evidence. Prime Minister De Croo also wants Belgium to make a relevant contribution, by examining whether our country can send forensic experts to Ukraine.
"The violence of war, the murders, the rapes ... what is happening in Ukraine is comparable to the darkest pages of our history," De Croo told the Flemish newspaper De Standaard. "It is heartbreaking to see that this is still possible in Europe."
De Croo also called on Europe to play a leading role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. According to the Prime Minister, this phase can be used to help Ukraine in its 'western aspirations'.
De Croo was backed by Dutch Prime Minister Rutte: "You could use the reconstruction to help in the fight against corruption, to ensure more press freedom, to strengthen the rule of law".
De Croo and Rutte said that it is up to the European Commission to come up with concrete proposals.
According to Bloomberg, the international news agency, the Commission is working on a fund to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. EU insiders say Kiev's long-term financial needs will be discussed in the coming weeks, in both Brussels and Washington.
(AHU)
© Belga Photo James Arthur Gekiere - Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte pictured during a press conference after the Thalassa Top, a joint meeting of the Belgian and Dutch governments, in Gent, Tuesday 19 April 2022.