Russia blocks UN Security Council resolution on chemical attack in Syria
Russia blocked a draft resolution that was introduced in the UN Security Council by the United States regarding the establishment of a new mechanism for investigating chemical attacks in Syria.
12 members of the Council voted for the resolution, and Russia and Bolivia voted against it. China abstained from voting.
Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Security Council, said that with the new U.S. resolution “they are trying to revive a joint investigation mechanism that ‘is simply shameful’ because a verdict has been rendered against a sovereign state - Syria - without supporting data.”
The resolution presented by the U.S. says that after studying the report of the new UN mission, the UN Security Council should declare violations of resolution 2118 (Establishing international control over chemical weapons of Syria and their destruction) and take measures in accordance with Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which defines actions in the event of a threat to peace.
Washington believes that the mission should replace the group of experts of the OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Last week, reports appeared on the internet about a chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma, which killed at least 70 people. Western countries accused Bashar Assad’s regime in the incident.
U.S. authorities announced that they are studying the possibility of a “military response” to the actions of the Syrian government forces. On Monday, Donald Trump said he would decide on measures against the Syrian authorities in the next 48 hours.
The Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties said that reports about the use of chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta are false.