Russia cast a veto at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday preventing the renewal of the mandate for a mission that investigates the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
The investigation by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) - was unanimously created by the 15-member UN Security Council in 2015 and renewed in 2016 for another year. Its mandate is due to expire in mid-November.
The JIM is due to report by Oct. 26 on who was responsible for an attack on April 4 on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, held by the opposition to Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, that killed dozens of people.
Russia wanted to discuss the report before voting on the extension of the mandate, and its UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia unsuccessfully asked to postpone the vote.
“Don’t try to create the impression that the JIM will be a dead letter unless we adopt this resolution today,” Nebenzia said prior to the vote.
“We are ready to return to extending the JIM after the publication of the report and after we discuss it after the 26 of October.”
A separate OPCW fact-finding mission determined in June that the banned nerve agent sarin had been used in the Khan Sheikhoun attack, which prompted the United States to launch missiles on a Syrian air base.
“Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the barbaric Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, traveling in Africa, said in a statement.
China abstained from Tuesday’s vote, while Bolivia joined Russia in voting no. Eleven countries voted in favor of the text.
-
King Salman orders delivery of humanitarian Aid for Khan Sheikhun
The King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid launched an emergency relief campaign on Sunday in aid of Khan Sheikhun, Idlib – the city ... Gulf -
OPCW: Sarin used in Syria 5 days before Khan Sheikhun
Sarin nerve agent was used in an ‘incident’ at a northern Syrian village in late March, five days before the deadly attack on Khan ... Middle East -
From Petersburg to Khan Sheikhoun
On Monday, the terrorist attack which targeted Saint Petersburg Metro killed at least 11 and injured dozens others. On the very next day, the town of ... Middle East -
What happened? Iranians are condemning Khan Sheikhoun massacre!
Millions have been shocked by the sight of children dying as a result of the recent Khan Sheikhoun massacre in Idlib. We should be aware that ... Middle East