Russian draft resolution on Douma, OPCW

 April 10, 2018

The Security Council,

PP1. Recalling the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC) ratified by the Syrian Arab Republic on 14 September 2013, and the Council’s resolutions 1540 (2004), 2118 (2013), 2209 (2015), 2235 (2015), 2314 (2016), and 2319 (2016).

PP2. Expressing its deep concern with regard to the alleged incident with use of toxic chemicals as weapon in Douma in the Syrian Arab Republic on 7 April 2018 reportedly causing large-scale loss of life and injuries, affirming that the use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious violation of international law, and stressing that those responsible for any use of chemical weapons must be held accountable.

PP3. Condemning in the strongest terms any use of any toxic chemical as a weapon in the Syrian Arab Republic, and elsewhere.

PP4. Recalling that in resolution 2118 (2013) the Council decided that the Syrian Arab Republic shall not use, develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons or transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons, to other States or non-State actors and underscored that no party in Syria should use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer chemical weapons.

PP5. Welcoming the readiness  of  the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to immediately send its Fact Finding Mission (FFM) to the site of the alleged incident in Douma to gather and analyse information on this incident and  report its findings to the OPCW Executive Council.

PP6. Taking note of the invitation of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic  to the FFM  experts to visit the site of the alleged incident in Douma without any delay.

PP7 Reaffirming its determination to identify and hold accountable  all those responsible for the use of chemicals as weapons on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.

PP8. Noting  with  due consideration  the assurances of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic  and the  military authorities of the Russian Federation in Syria to provide the FFM experts with full security arrangements for a safe access to the site of alleged incident in Douma.

OP1. Reiterates its condemnation in the strongest terms of any use of any toxic chemical as a weapon in the Syrian Arab Republic;

OP2. Expresses its alarm at the allegations of use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, in particular the alleged incident in Douma on 7 April 2018, notes its outrage that individuals reportedly continue to be killed and injured by chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, and reiterates its determination that those responsible must be held accountable;

OP3. Welcomes the decision of the OPCW Director-General to send  the FFM experts for investigation  in accordance with the CWC to the site of the alleged incident in Douma and adjacent areas  and requests the FFM to report the results of this investigation to the OPCW Executive Council  as soon as possible and further requests the Director-General to keep the Security Council informed of the progress;

OP4. Expresses its full support to the OPCW FFM, demands that all parties in the Syrian Arab Republic shall without any delay facilitate free and safe access for the FFM to relevant sites as well as provide any information and evidence, including, but not limited to, medical records, interview tapes and transcripts, and documentary material, in accordance with resolution 2118, in relation to the alleged incident in Douma and adjacent areas;

OP 5. Recalls that in its resolutions 2118 and 2235 it decided that all parties in the Syrian Arab Republic shall cooperate fully with the OPCW and the United Nations;

OP 6. Emphasises that this includes the obligation of all the parties in  the Syrian Arab Republic of complying with their relevant provisions, by accepting personnel designated by the OPCW or the United Nations, by ensuring the security of activities undertaken by these personnel and providing these personnel with immediate and unfettered access to the site of the alleged incident in Douma and adjacent areas; 

OP 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council on the implementation of this resolution, and on compliance by all relevant parties in the Syrian Arab Republic, within 15 days of adoption of this resolution and thereafter within the framework of its reporting on resolution 2118 (2013).

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