UN Failed Investigations on Chemical Weapons Use in Syria – Russian FM

MOSCOW, (ST) _ The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the UN  Secretariat adopted a non-constructive position  in the case of the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, expressing Moscow’s deep concern over the Secretariat’s  maneuvers in  investigating likely use of chemical weapons in Syria.

In a statement on Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that ” under the pressure of certain countries, the UN Secretariat adopted  a non-constructive position that fails  investigation of  specific information about possible use of chemical weapons in Syria on March 19.”

The Russian Ministry considered such actions as unacceptable from any side, especially on the part of the UN Secretariat , which should be neutral and objective  when considering crises and disputes.

“Following  the news on using toxic materials in Khan El-Assal area  in Aleppo on March 19, the Syrian government submitted a request to the UN Secretary-General to  investigate  into this particular incident and know the truth about this issue,” the Statement read.

The UN  Secretariat responded to the Syrian side by a new message  on the intention to investigate not only in the said  incident  but also in information on the likely  use of toxic materials, the Russian Ministry noted, adding that there were not formal requests about incidents of possible use of chemical weapons before the request from Damascus.

T. Fateh