Russian Permanent Representative to the OPCW commented on the resolution on limiting Syrian rights and privileges adopted by the OPCW members, saying that the organization had turned into a political instrument.
"Today is a black day in the history of the OPCW," he said. - "We are ashamed of what has happened in this hall. <...> It's a shame that the organization has been transformed from a technical body into a political tool for trying a member state. This time, over Syria".
"We believe that sooner or later the truth about the events in Syria will come out," the diplomat stressed. - "History will put everything in its place one way or another. And then not only we and the countries that voted against the decision but many of those that supported it will be ashamed of what happened inside the OPCW today".
"Unfortunately, we have witnessed how the norms of international law are flouted in favor of what a certain group of countries calls their own rules," Shulgin said. - "Behind the pathetic statements about alleged war crimes with chemical weapons, which in fact did not happen, we see an attempt, through propaganda actions, to consolidate the perception that the root of evil lies in the legitimate authorities in Damascus, who must be demonized and eventually removed."
Earlier, OPCW members approved a resolution limiting the rights and privileges of Syria. A total of 136 states took part in the vote and 87 of them supported the resolution. Russia and 14 other countries opposed the document, which deprives Syria of the right to vote at the CPS and the Executive Council, to be elected to it, as well as to conduct any activities on its territory in the framework of the said conference, council and auxiliary structures.
The resolution was submitted to the OPCW members at the initiative of France and was supported by 46 states. The reason for its preparation was the report of the investigation and identification team, which was published on April 8, 2020. The document alleges that the Syrian authorities were responsible for three incidents of poisonous substances that took place in the locality of Al-Lataminah in Homs province in March 2017.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Mikhail Metzel / TASS
Based on materials from TASS