UN investigation of Syria’s chemical weapon use likely to get extension
UNITED NATIONS, New York – Matthew Rycroft, the United Kingdom's Ambassador to the United Nations, believes an investigative mechanism for chemical attacks in Syria will have its mandate renewed and the investigation could pivot to naming alleged individuals.
"It’s extremely important that everyone who has been involved in the actual use of chemical weapons in Syria or elsewhere is held to account," Rycroft told Rudaw's UN correspondent Majeed Gly.
An investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) into multiple chemical weapons attacks in Syria will have its mandate extended in the next few days, Rycroft believes.
"[T]ime is pressing, but I think everyone agrees that it should be renewed," he said.
An extension of the JIM was vetoed by Russia in the Security Council in October.
The Russians want the JIM to be renewed, according to Rycroft. "They just have a different view about what sort of JIM," he said.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia also predicts a vote soon and confirmed that Moscow would like the investigation to be renewed.
"We are discussing their draft. We have our own draft," he said.
Nebenzia called the JIM "important," but believes it should be renewed on an updated mandate because of "systematic errors" in the recent report.
"That is the aim of our draft resolution," he added.
Specifically, the investigators should be "on-site, the chain of custody should be preserved, evidence collected should be real."
Rycroft suggested that the people alleged to be responsible for chemical attacks in Syria should be named in future JIM reports.
"[I]f they have evidence that points to individuals in addition to parties, then yes, they should make that available in whatever way they can so that proper justice can be brought for the victims and for the survivors," he said.
The JIM found in October that "sufficient evidence of a credible nature" pointed to the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad being responsible for the April 4 sarin gas attack on April 4.
The investigation did not specify who it believed ordered and delivered the attack.
"It’s extremely important that everyone who has been involved in the actual use of chemical weapons in Syria or elsewhere is held to account," Rycroft told Rudaw's UN correspondent Majeed Gly.
An investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) into multiple chemical weapons attacks in Syria will have its mandate extended in the next few days, Rycroft believes.
"[T]ime is pressing, but I think everyone agrees that it should be renewed," he said.
An extension of the JIM was vetoed by Russia in the Security Council in October.
The Russians want the JIM to be renewed, according to Rycroft. "They just have a different view about what sort of JIM," he said.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia also predicts a vote soon and confirmed that Moscow would like the investigation to be renewed.
"We are discussing their draft. We have our own draft," he said.
Nebenzia called the JIM "important," but believes it should be renewed on an updated mandate because of "systematic errors" in the recent report.
"That is the aim of our draft resolution," he added.
Specifically, the investigators should be "on-site, the chain of custody should be preserved, evidence collected should be real."
Rycroft suggested that the people alleged to be responsible for chemical attacks in Syria should be named in future JIM reports.
"[I]f they have evidence that points to individuals in addition to parties, then yes, they should make that available in whatever way they can so that proper justice can be brought for the victims and for the survivors," he said.
The JIM found in October that "sufficient evidence of a credible nature" pointed to the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad being responsible for the April 4 sarin gas attack on April 4.
The investigation did not specify who it believed ordered and delivered the attack.