Mandate of OPCW-UN Mechanism on Chemical Weapons in Syria Expires Friday

The mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on the use of chemical weapons in Syria expires on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The JIM in Syria was established after the UN Security Council meeting in August 2015, which unanimously adopted resolution 2235, aimed at identifying those behind chemical weapons attacks in Syria. In late October 2016, the UN Security Council extended the JIM mandate until November 18, with possibility of further extension.

Shortly before the mission was extended, the JIM expert panel released the fourth report, which, in particular, claimed that the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad had used chemical weapons at least three times in the country throughout 2014-2015.

The decision was regretted by Damascus, as it reportedly lacked convincing evidence. The Russian Foreign Ministry also expressed regret over the OPCW decision, expecting further escalation of anti-Syrian sentiments within the UN Security Council and the OPCW.