Netherlands in a bind over possible Russian involvement in MH17 crash, reports NYT

Having suffered the largest casualty in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash, the Netherlands is now caught in a dilemma over the prospect that Russian-backed separatists are involved in the tragedy as it counts Russia as a big trading partner, reported the New York Times today.

The Dutch government is mindful of the fact that Russia is the country's third largest trade partner, with constantly expanding business ties, especially in natural gas, the paper reported.

According to Malaysia Airlines, of the 298 people aboard MH17, 192 passengers were Dutch nationals.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has not been as vocal as United States President Barack Obama on the MH17 disaster, said the newspaper.

Rutte told a press conference yesterday that flight MH17 had been taken down by a surface-to-air missile (SAM).

"It seems as if MH17 was shot down, but we have no exact information on what actually caused the disaster," Rutte was quoted as saying on state television.

Rutte's diplomatic reaction illustrates the small manoeuvring space the Dutch have when it comes to its relations with Russia.

"We are a small country, dependent on our exports," the New York Times quoted Alexander Pechtold as saying.

Pechtold heads D66, a liberal democratic party and is also one of Netherlands' main opposition leaders.

"Unlike the United States, we cannot always react from our moral high ground.

"However, if proven that the Russians are responsible for this terrible event, we cannot look in the opposite direction," he said in the New York Times report.

It reported that prominent Dutch author and historian Geert Mak as saying the Dutch were in a difficult position due to Russian support for the Ukrainian separatists.

Mak said in the report that Russia's support for Ukrainian separatists places the Dutch in a difficult position.

“We have a serious bone to pick with Russia after this horrible incident. Especially if it turns out that Putin (Russian president) armed these men,” he said of the Ukrainian separatists in the report.

Mak said in the report that this was also the way for a smaller country to survive and be prosperous.

“Now we are angry. Angry over the fact that Dutchmen have been killed, but at the same time we realise we need our ties with Russia. Activism is a way for us to do what we can,” he said in the report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed Ukraine for the downing of flight MH17, saying the country over which the aircraft crashed should be held responsible.