Has the OPCW Abandoned Its Mandate?
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is mandated “to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention…to achieve…a world…free of” CWs.
Its mission includes “credible and transparent” on-site inspections to verify use of and destruction of these weapons.
Use of CWs is prohibited. Nations maintaining arsenals are required to eliminate them. America and Israel are notorious non-compliers.
Yet OPCW officials ignore their banned CW weapons, used against adversaries in wars of aggression.
Security Council Resolution 2118 (September 2013) mandated the scheduled destruction of Syrian CWs, consistent with US/Russia Geneva agreements on the country.
The OPCW affirmed the total elimination of these weapons. Yet it abstains from on-site inspections of CW attacks falsely blamed on Damascus, using information supplied by al-Qaeda-linked White Helmets and other disreputable anti-Syria sources.
On Saturday, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad said “(w)e received information that militants in Eastern Ghouta are going to stage a chemical attack in Hawsh al-Ash’ari, between the settlements of Mesraba and Beit Sawa.”
“The terrorists of the Tahrir al-Sham group want to sacrifice several women for these purposes and spread false stories. This ‘show’ is expected to take place on March 11.”
The OPCW continues ignoring information supplied by Syria’s government on use of CWs by US-supported terrorists, Mikdad explained.
Why, he asked, adding it’s “cause for suspicion and wonder.” Falsely blaming Syria for use of these banned weapons encourages further use, he stressed – Damascus wrongfully blamed each time an incident occurs.
Syria has evidence of sarin, chlorine and mustard gas used by terrorists. They’ve acquired large stockpiles of these weapons, said Mikdad.
Yet OPCW experts ignore Syrian evidence, including technology needed to produce CWs through or in neighboring countries, he stressed.
Large stockpiles of these weapons were discovered in areas liberated from US-supported terrorists.
Syrian forces found containers with 20 tons of CWs in al-Dhahiriya and al-Khafsah in Hama province, according to Mikdad.
Another 24 tons of CWs were discovered in Tal Adleh. A facility in the Hama countryside was used to manufacture toxic agents, including chemical ammunition and dozens of barrels containing these weapons, Mikdad explained.
Instead of conducting on-site investigations of these discoveries, the OPCW prefers only to probe CW incidents falsely blamed on Damascus – without visiting affected areas, said Mikdad.
Their reports “lack objectivity and credibility,” he stressed. Remote investigations are unacceptable, failing to conform to international standards.
“What do you expect from an investigation that takes place in Turkey (with) witnesses being fake, the information being fake, and the materials that were presented being fake,” Mikdad explained in disgust about how the organization is operating on issues relating to CW use in Syria, adding:
“We have enough conventional weapons to defend Syria, and there is no justification for any country in the world to threaten Syria, except that they want to support the terrorists.”
“We advise everyone against any military adventurism, because the international situation can no longer bear such aggressive practices.”
On March 7, Syria had information indicating US-supported East Ghouta terrorists were planning another CW attack ahead of a scheduled OPCW Executive Council meeting – so it could be falsely blamed on Damascus at the session.
In Syria, is the organization serving as a US imperial agent? Abandonment of its objectivity suggests it.
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