Moscow loses seat on chemical weapons council — RT World News
Moscow did not receive enough votes from members of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on Wednesday to remain on the Executive Council after May 2024.
The 41-member Board of Directors is elected for two-year terms on a rotating basis from among the 193 member states. “Taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution, the importance of the chemical industry, and political and security interests,” According to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Of the five seats allocated to the Eastern European region, four are currently held by NATO member states: Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Romania. When Moscow’s mandate expires in six months, along with the mandates of Tirana and Sofia, Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine will join the group.
Russian Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Kirill Lesogorsky represented Moscow at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons conference this week. He reminded other members that Russia traditionally has a seat on the Council and has the largest chemical industry in the region, accounting for nearly 37% of all sites subject to OPCW inspections.
Earlier this week, Lysogorsky said Moscow had done so “Indisputable evidence” The United States and NATO supplied Ukraine with toxic chemicals and their means of delivery, which he said were used in the attack. “New leadership [regions] Which joined Russia.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection Forces, revealed on Tuesday that… At least 15 people He died in 17 incidents of chemical poisoning, which he blamed on the Ukrainian army. Ukraine has denied developing or using chemical weapons.
Moscow has previously raised the specter of Washington’s dominance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. In February, the Russian ambassador to the organization Disputed A report on an alleged chemical attack in Syria in 2018, describing it as full of contradictions and gaps in the facts.
It was the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) that issued the report “Totally illegal” Alexander Shulgin said, accusing the United States and its allies of working to undermine and replace the principles of international law “Made up rules.”
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