Security Council views US draft resolution to investigate use of chemical weapons in Syria

The US delegation to the UN revealed a draft resolution yesterday which calls on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to form a Joint Investigative Mechanism with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to look into their use in Syria. The draft resolution aims to assemble an investigations team to determine the individuals, entities, groups or governments who have been perpetrators, organisers, sponsors or is otherwise involved in the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

According to press statements made after the Security Council’s closed session on Syria, Council President Gerard van Bohemen confirmed that the US delegation “circulated a draft resolution to the members of the council.” New Zealand’s Permanent representative to the UN, Bohemen refused to talk about the possibility of issuing the resolution or when the council will vote it on. New Zealand holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month.

The draft resolution condemns “the use of poisonous chemicals such as chlorine as weapons in Syria” and calls on all countries to “cooperate fully with the Joint Investigative Mechanism and to provide any related information it may possess with regards to the chemical weapons attacks.”

The Joint Investigative Mechanism will be established for a year and may be renewed if necessary.