UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution that extends through November 18 the mandate of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-UN joint mechanism for investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
“The draft resolution is adopted unanimously by 15 votes of the Security Council members,” council president and Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.
Following the vote, Churkin addressed the Council in his role as ambassador, saying Russia supported the resolution and hoped the short-term extension would give UN member states time for substantive discussions on the future of the joint mechanism.
Last week, Russia said a long-term extension of the mandate for the body’s work should be expanded to cover anti-terrorism efforts and regional security.
The joint mechanism was established in 2013 to investigate and prosecute suspected war crimes involving chemical weapons in Syria.
