Unic Press UK: After an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, a city in Syria, the United Nations Security Council could not reach a resolution that would have put in place a proper mechanism for investigating the use of chemical weapons in the country.
During its meeting Tuesday, there were two competing proposals, one was a draft presented by the United States, another was initiated by Russia.
United States representative, Nikki R. Haley, said the draft presented by the U.S. called for unfettered humanitarian access and the creation of an independent mechanism of investigation to determinate accountability.
The proposal inked by the U.S. was refused after a recorded vote of 12 in favour to 2 against (Bolivia, Russian Federation) with 1 abstention (China).
Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said the proposal penned by his country “reflected the Government of Syria’s invitation to the OPCW fact-finding mission in order to carry out investigation in line with that organization’s standards. Describing that text as a “de-politicized initiative” that would have identified what had — and what had not — taken place in Douma, he voiced concern that now experts might be unable to reach Douma due to the potential aggressive military actions being threatened by some parties.”
The Council rejected the draft resolution submitted by the Russian Federation after a recorded vote of 6 in favour (Bolivia, China, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation) to 7 against (France, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States), with 2 abstentions (Côte d’Ivoire, Kuwait).
