Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby:
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop today to offer his personal condolences for the Australians who lost their lives on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. The secretary reiterated President Obama's pledge to support an international investigation into the incident.
The secretary and the minister also discussed Australia's proposal for a UN Security Council resolution authorizing an international investigation with immediate, secure, and unrestricted access to the site to determine the cause of the crash.
Secretary Hagel and Minister Bishop agreed that the U.S. and Australia should work closely together as the investigation moves forward.