Politics
07:44, 18-Nov-2017
UN fails to adopt resolution on Syrian chemical weapons inquiry
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A second attempt in two days to renew an international inquiry into chemical attacks in Syria has been blocked at the UN Security Council.
A Japan-drafted resolution to renew the inquiry for one month was vetoed by Russia on Friday, one day after it did the same to a US motion. The latest draft received 12 votes in favor, while China abstained and Bolivia joined Russia in voting no. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by China, the US, France, Russia or Britain to be adopted.
The inquiry, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), found the Syrian government used the banned nerve agent sarin in an April 4 attack and has several times used chlorine as a weapon. It blamed ISIL for using mustard gas.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya votes against a bid to renew an international inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria, during a meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday. /Reuters Photo
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya votes against a bid to renew an international inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria, during a meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday. /Reuters Photo
On Thursday, Russia and the US both put forward rival resolutions on the JIM mission. Russia vetoed the American draft, but its own proposal to renew the inquiry subsequently failed to gain enough votes.
The mandate for the joint inquiry by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which was unanimously created by the 15-member Security Council in 2015, was due to end Friday.
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the inquiry could only be extended if "fundamental flaws in its work" were fixed. He said investigators had for the past two years "rubber-stamped baseless accusations against Syria."
After the meeting the council moved to closed-door discussions at the request of Sweden's UN Ambassador Olof Skoog to "ensure we are absolutely convinced we have exhausted every avenue, every effort" before the mandate expired.
While Russia agreed to the creation of the JIM, it has consistently questioned its findings and working methods.
The April 4 sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed dozens of people prompted the United States to launch missiles on a Syrian air base.
Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Russia and the US.
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