In U.N. Showdown, Russian Veto Kills Syria Chemical Arms Panel
16, 2017
UNITED NATIONS — Infuriating the United States and its allies, Russia on Thursday blocked an American-sponsored resolution
at the Security Council to extend the life of a panel investigating who is using chemical weapons in the Syria conflict.
chemical weapons attack is on your heads." Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia of Russia ridiculed the American indignation, accusing the United States
and its partners of seeking to preserve a panel with "extremely systemic flaws." "There was nothing balanced in the U.S. resolution," Mr. Nebenzia said. that The next
Later he told reporters waiting outside the Security Council chambers
that Russia "condemns the use of chemical weapons by anyone" but that the panel’s reporting was "a joke — complete nonsense." It was the 10th time Russia had used its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to protect the Syrian government, its principal ally in the Middle East.
Mr. Lavrov said the panel’s investigators had shown themselves to be "biased, politicized" and "clearly carrying out orders from the outside." The American resolution, he said, "aims to extend the mandate of this mechanism by welcoming and approving the methods
that it uses." "It is clear that this is absolutely unacceptable," Mr. Lavrov said.
After a short recess, the council reconvened to vote on an alternate resolution drafted by Russia to extend the panel’s mandate, under conditions
that the United States and its allies said would have eviscerated its abilities.
The United States and its allies strongly defended the panel’s integrity
and professionalism, accusing Russia of trying to neuter its ability to identify who is behind chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
