Russia, for the second time in 24 hours, once again vetoed an UN Security Council resolution that provided for a one-month extension to the UN peacekeeping mission and Opac investigating attacks chemicals in Syria. It is Moscow's second veto in about 24 hours.
The resolution got 12 votes in favor, 2 opposed (Bolivia and Russian veto), and 1 abstained. After Russia's veto of the document proposed by the US and the rejection of Moscow's rival text, Japan had proposed a mediation attempt with a brief renewal of the joint investigation mechanism of UN and Opac with the possibility of further extensions. He also asked the UN Secretary-General and the General Director General Opac to present within 20 days proposals on the structure and methodology of the team of experts as requested by Moscow.
The White House, with a note following the Russian veto, launches an accusation against Russia: "By vetoing the renewal of the joint investigative mechanism of the United Nations and OPAC, Russia has sent a clear message that does not value lives of victims of chemical weapons attacks (in Syria, ed) and does not respect reasonable standards of international conduct on the use of such weapons. The US - continues the note - will not cease to put pressure on the UN Security Council to renew the mandate of the joint investigative mechanism of the United Nations and Opac so that it can continue its important work of identifying the perpetrators of hateful attacks with weapons chemical weapons, seek justice for the victims and send a clear message that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated by anyone, anywhere ".
Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the UN, commented: “Russia's actions, today and in recent weeks, are designed to delay and defeat efforts to secure accountability for chemical attacks in Syria, Russia is doing us. waste time".