Brussels, 27/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 26 September, Russia and the USA came to an agreement on a resolution supporting the destruction of the Syrian chemical arsenal - a resolution which could be put to the vote of the United Nations Security Council in the evening of 27 September.
The resolution reportedly provides for the possibility of recourse to Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter on the sanctions - including the use of force - if the disarmament plan is not respected. However, in the case of non-respect, there would not be automatic sanctions and the Security Council would have to decide on the measures in another resolution. “The Security Council is ready to examine any violation of the agreements on chemical weapons, and to initiate action under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter”, said Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov, adding, however, that the resolution “does not necessitate any action” under this chapter.
The resolution reportedly also makes reference to the account that should be given by the perpetrators of the attack - without, however, mentioning the International Criminal Court. Only the Security Council could appeal to this because Syria is not a member - but Russia is currently opposed to this.
France's Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius said that France is satisfied with this resolution which “marks a step forwards” and picks up the three demands of Paris - the reference to Chapter 7, the fact of the perpetrators having to be held accountable, and the fact of the chemical weapons being considered as an attack on international security - for the Security Council to be able to use it at any time.
If this resolution is adopted, it will be the first resolution on Syria since the start of the conflict in March 2011 - as three other texts met with vetoes from Russia and China.
Inspections start on 1 October. According to a draft decision of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - of which AFP has had a copy and which is due to be put to the vote in the evening of 27 September before the vote on the UN resolution - the inspections of the chemical arsenal must begin as soon as possible and by 1 October at the latest. It also says that the inspectors will have to be given access to all the suspected sites. (CG/transl.fl)