China: The OPCW must work neutrally and independently

China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang has affirmed that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) must implement its activities neutrally and independently, calling for dealing with the chemical file in Syria in an open and comprehensive way and for respecting science and facts in this field.

Xinhua News Agency reported that Geng Shuang said during the online meeting of the Security Council on Friday that “in recent years, the OPCW has issued a number of reports about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.  Many independent experts have raised doubts about these reports from a technical point of view and indicated that there are contradictions in these reports.” He emphasized that the organization should respond to these doubts in a professional and convincing way.

He reiterated that China is against attempts to overpass the  conclusions or rashly take action, particularly in the light of many doubts, indicating that some Security Council member states simply refuse to listen to different opinions and accuse anyone who differs with them of undermining the authority of the OPCW.

“Such a behavior is absolutely politicized and irresponsible,” he affirmed.  

The Chinese diplomat called on all member countries of the organization to encourage it to maintain contacts and cooperation with Syria  and to be objective towards the efforts exerted by the Syrian government in the chemical file. He pointed out that Syria and the OPCW’s Technical Secretariat recently held the 23rd round of technical consultations, during which Syria renewed its readiness to continue its cooperation with the Technical Secretariat.

Russia criticizes the work methods of the OPCW’s  Technical Secretariat

On his part, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia criticized the work methods of the OPCW’s  Technical Secretariat, stressing his country’s rejection of the “speculation and political smear campaigns that are increasingly poisoning the organization work.”

He indicated that the Technical Secretariat conducts remote surveys based on “external information and open sources instead of collecting samples from the field”.

Nebenzia stressed that the OPCW and some Western countries continue their hostile approach towards Syria and they exploit allegations on the use of chemical weapons there, noting the organization’s double standard policy.

Hamda Mustafa