OPCW Members Pass Draft Extension of Organization's Powers - UK Delegation

On Tuesday, Peter Wilson, the UK permanent representative to the OPCW, submitted the UK proposal to adopt a draft decision on giving the organization greater powers to identify those responsible for chemical attacks.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) members have approved the UK-proposed draft motion expanding the organization's powers to attribute responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria, the UK delegation said.

The #UK Decision at the @OPCW Conference of State Parties has passed with votes 82 in favour (24 No).

The international community has come together to strengthen the ban against chemical weapons use. #CSPSS4 #NoToChemicalWeapons pic.twitter.com/9vtGthXzWx

— UK Delegation OPCW (@UK_OPCW) 27 июня 2018 г.

The decision was approved after the proposed amendments to the UK draft extension of the OPCW powers were rejected.

"All the proposed amendments to the #UK proposed @OPCW Decision have been voted down. The Conference of States Parties will vote on UK text in 20 min," the delegation wrote on Twitter.

Voting on amendments ended for now, session paused for lunch.

4 sets of amendments voted down.

🇬🇧 Decision addresses grave threats to ban on CW & promises a significant increase in @OPCW assistance to states to address chemical terrorism threat. #CSPSS4 #NoToChemicalWeapons pic.twitter.com/vk9mdZ2CEe

— UK Delegation OPCW (@UK_OPCW) 27 июня 2018 г.

Russia and China have withdrawn their draft decision at the OPCW session in favor of Burundi, the Russian Delegation reports.

The Russian and Chinese delegations have withdrawn their draft text @UK_OPCW

Voting should now proceed on the UK text, with 30 cosponsors, at 1440 local time in The Hague #CSPSS4 #NoToChemicalWeapons pic.twitter.com/PK9F33zoks

— Peter Wilson (@PeterWilson) 27 июня 2018 г.

Earlier, Russia's envoy to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin said that Western countries' attempts to give the OPCW powers to determine perpetrators of chemical attacks undermined the whole system of international relations since only the UN Security Council is eligible to make such judgments.

READ MORE: UK Wants to Empower Chemical Arms Watchdog Despite Russia's Protests

Russia and the OPCW differ on the issue of chemical attacks in Syria as the organization blames Syrian government troops for a number of chemical attacks in the country while Moscow insists that the accusations are groundless.

Russia-UK relations reached their lowest level since the end of the Cold War following the March Salisbury attack, when the UK claimed that the nerve agent used in the attack was developed by the Soviet Union.

After Russia denied London's accusations, Theresa May imposed on the Kremlin a series of sanctions, including the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats who were allegedly intelligence agents. Russia responded with tit-for-tat measures, expelling British diplomats and closing the British Council.