www.bbc.com Open in urlscan Pro
151.101.128.81  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to content

British Broadcasting Corporation
Watch Live
Register
Sign In
 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Business
 * Innovation
 * Culture
 * Arts
 * Travel
 * Earth
 * Video
 * Live

 * Home
   
 * News
    * Israel-Gaza War
      
    * War in Ukraine
      
    * US Election
      
    * US & Canada
      
    * UK
       * UK Politics
         
       * England
         
       * N. Ireland
          * N. Ireland Politics
            
      
       * Scotland
          * Scotland Politics
            
      
       * Wales
          * Wales Politics
            
   
    * Africa
      
    * Asia
       * China
         
       * India
         
   
    * Australia
      
    * Europe
      
    * Latin America
      
    * Middle East
      
    * In Pictures
      
    * BBC InDepth
      
    * BBC Verify
      

 * Sport
   
 * Business
    * Executive Lounge
      
    * Technology of Business
      
    * Future of Business
      

 * Innovation
    * Technology
      
    * Science & Health
      
    * Artificial Intelligence
      
    * AI v the Mind
      

 * Culture
    * Film & TV
      
    * Music
      
    * Art & Design
      
    * Style
      
    * Books
      
    * Entertainment News
      

 * Arts
    * Arts in Motion
      

 * Travel
    * Destinations
       * Africa
         
       * Antarctica
         
       * Asia
         
       * Australia and Pacific
         
       * Caribbean & Bermuda
         
       * Central America
         
       * Europe
         
       * Middle East
         
       * North America
         
       * South America
         
   
    * World’s Table
      
    * Culture & Experiences
      
    * Adventures
      
    * The SpeciaList
      

 * Earth
    * Natural Wonders
      
    * Weather & Science
      
    * Climate Solutions
      
    * Sustainable Business
      
    * Green Living
      

 * Video
   
 * Live
    * Live News
      
    * Live Sport
      


Register
Sign In
Home
News

Sport
Business

Innovation

Culture

Arts

Travel

Earth

Video
Live

Audio
Weather
Newsletters


OPCW CHEMICAL WATCHDOG GAINS POWER TO ASSIGN BLAME

27 June 2018
Share
Save
Share
Save
AFP
An infant is treated after an alleged gas attack in the Eastern Ghouta in
January

The world's foremost chemical weapons watchdog has granted itself new powers to
assign blame for attacks, despite protests by Russia.

Until now, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) could
only say whether chemical weapons were used - but not who had used them.

Britain successfully argued that new powers were needed to deal with repeated
chemical attacks in Syria.

Russia said the move went "beyond the mandate" of the watchdog.

It also said the organisation was facing an "artificially created crisis".



The members of the OPCW, however, voted in large numbers for the measure,
winning the vote by 82 to 24 - exceeding the two-thirds majority needed.

Britain proposed the measure, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said it would
"strengthen the ban on chemical weapons and prevent impunity for their use".




AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD

Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent

This is an important step forward for arms control. It strengthens the
unravelling consensus against the use of chemical weapons. It marks a victory
for the rules-based international order, which itself is under increasing strain
given the rise of populists and nationalism in many countries. But inevitably it
will prove to be a new source of tension between Russia and the West.



Until now, chemical weapons inspectors working under the auspices of the OPCW
were in a curious position. They could send teams to an alleged chemical weapons
attack. They could take samples and draw their conclusions. They could determine
whether indeed a chemical weapons incident had occurred. But whatever evidence
they turned up, they could not point the finger at a particular country or
non-state actor as the perpetrator.

That was, of course, a nonsense. It is like having a detective investigate a
killing, only to conclude that yes indeed, murder most foul has been committed,
but then being unable to identify the likely culprit.

 * Read more from Jonathan Marcus



Repeated allegations of chemical weapon use by Syria's government against rebels
and civilians brought the issue into the international spotlight in recent
months.



In April, the United States, UK, and France jointly bombed three Syrian
government sites in response to the alleged chemical attacks.

The Syrian government, which is backed militarily by Russia, has repeatedly
denied ever using chemical weapons.

International relations also frayed after the poisoning of former Russian double
agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter on British soil.

 * How do you test for chemical weapons?
 * Syria 'chemical attack': What we know
 * Russian spy: What happened to the Skripals?

UK investigators concluded that a Russian-developed military-grade nerve agent
called Novichok was used in the attack in the city of Salisbury.



British authorities accused Russia of direct involvement; Russia is also the
Syrian government's main ally.

Russian Industry Minister Georgy Kalamonov told Reuters news agency the OPCW was
like a sinking ship.

"A lot of the countries that voted against the measure are starting to think
about how the organisation will exist and function in the future," he said.


HOW DO YOU TEST FOR CHEMICAL WEAPONS?


100 YEARS OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS


SYRIA 'CHEMICAL ATTACK': WHAT WE KNOW


VIEWPOINT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS ‘THREAT TO WEST’


RUSSIA: NO EVIDENCE OF CHEMICAL ATTACK


SUSPECTED SYRIA CHEMICAL ATTACK KILLS 70


WHY CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROVOKE OUTRAGE


RUSSIAN SPY: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SKRIPALS?




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

British Broadcasting Corporation
Watch Live
 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Business
 * Innovation
 * Culture
 * Arts
 * Travel
 * Earth
 * Video
 * Live
 * Audio
 * Weather
 * BBC Shop

BBC in other languages



FOLLOW BBC ON:


 * Terms of Use
 * About the BBC
 * Privacy Policy
 * Cookies
 * Accessibility Help
 * Contact the BBC
 * Advertise with us
 * Do not share or sell my info
 * Contact technical support

Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved.  The BBC is not responsible for the
content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.