Russia rejects OPCW findings as legitimation for ‘Western aggression’
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Russia accused on Monday the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) of justifying the US’, UK’s and France’s aggression against Syria.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned, in a statement, the Western manipulation of the IIT.
On January 27, the IIT said there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that the Air Forces of the Syrian government conducted the chemical weapons attack on Douma, in Rif Dimasq Governorate, southern Syria, on April 7, 2018.
The IIT report pointed out that it received credible information, corroborated through multiple sources, that Russian forces were co-located at Dumayr airbase alongside Tiger Forces, affiliated to the government forces.
On the same day, the US Department of State released a joint statement with the UK, France and Germany, on the OPCW report, finding “Syrian regime responsible for chemical weapons attack in Douma.”
“We call on the Russian Federation to stop shielding Syria from accountability for its use of chemical weapons,” read the joint statement.
Two days later, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that the report released by the OPCW lacks evidence and rejected the allegations.
On April 8, 2020, the IIT, for the first time, held the Syrian government forces responsibility for the chemical attacks on the town of Latmana, in Hama Governorate, in 2017.
The US, the UK and France carried out a massive missile strike on Syrian civilian and military facilities on April 14, 2018 – one week after the chemical attack – violating “basic norms and principles of international law,” according to the Russian Ministry.
“We condemn such Western manipulation of a respected international body,” the Ministry noted.
Russia does not intend to cooperation with the IIT in its work on the chemical incident in Douma, as it considers the IIT “illegitimate,” the statement continues.
The IIT was established by member states at the Hague-based OPCW in November 2018 to identify perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria after Russia vetoed the joint UN-OPCW mission.
Russia did not provide any information to the IIT about the chemical attack because Russia, like other countries, considers this body “illegitimate,” the ministry said.