Syria denounces critical report at chemical weapons organization meeting

Syria and its allies clash with other nations at the annual conference of member states of the global chemical weapons watchdog, underscoring how politicized the body has become since Damascus joined.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad uses the opening day of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons meeting to denounce an international investigation that last month accused Damascus of launching a deadly sarin attack in April.

European Union representative Jacek Bylica, however, says that the investigation’s report showed “a clear case of violation” of the treaty outlawing chemical weapons and said “the perpetrators of such horrific crimes must be held accountable.”

Russia, Syria’s staunch ally, recently vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate, which expired earlier this month, of the UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mission.

— AP