Britain Opposes Russian-Chinese Suggestion for UNSC to Adopt Resolution on Chemical Terrorism Threat

UNITED NATIONS- Russia and China have reiterated their suggestion that the United Nations Security Council adopt a resolution aimed at preventing poisonous substances from falling into the hands of terrorists active in Syria and Iraq. Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Vladimir Safronkov told reporters that a draft resolution had been put forward at a close-door meeting initiated by Moscow, Itar Tass reported.

The draft resolution was reviewed in 2016 but the western members of the UN Security Council did not support it. According to Safronkov, the document has not lost its importance particularly in light of the recent media reports on chemical attacks carried out in the Mosul area by militants of the so-called “Islamic State” terror group (outlawed by Russia). “We need to launch serious work based on facts. Experts say that chemical terrorism threat in the Middle East is real,” the Russian diplomat added.

 “In order to encourage members of the UN Security Council to make joint efforts aimed at preventing terrorists from using chemical weapons, Russia and China have put forward an updated draft resolution,” Safronkov said. He added that the western counterparts’ response to the document submitted by Moscow and Beijing was rather balanced as they said would forward it to their governments for assessment. “We will see what will become of it,” the Russian deputy permanent representative added.

West’s opposition

The draft resolution submitted by Russia and China in April 2016 demanded that all countries, particularly Syria’s neighbors, should immediately report to the UN Security Council about the activities of what was called “non-state actors” aimed at manufacture, possession, development, transport and transfer of chemical weapons and means of delivery. In addition, the document stipulated that the Joint Investigative Mechanism set up by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) would also act in Iraq.

During the discussion of the document, a number of UN Security Council member states upheld the initiative while others, namely the UK, stood against including Iraq into the Joint Investigative Mechanism’s mandate.

Britain Opposes Russian-Chinese Initiative

The UK has not changed its mind since then, as on Friday, the British Permanent Representative Matthew Rycroft once again opposed the Russian-Chinese initiative. He clarified his position claiming that there was a big difference between the situations in Syria and Iraq.

However, Russia’s deputy permanent representative did not agree that the situation in Syria was special. “In my opinion, this is a very unprofessional and emotional logic based on some political doctrine, which hampers the UN Security Council’s activities aimed at combating the chemical terrorism threat in the region,” he stressed.

H.M