Russia cast a second veto in as many days at the United Nations Security Council on Friday to block the renewal of a probe to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
A draft resolution put forward by Japan would have extended the UN-led Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) for 30 days to allow time for negotiations on a wider compromise.
But Russia used its veto power to prevent adoption after 12 council members voted in favour of the measure, effectively ending the mission. China abstained, while Bolivia voted no.
It was the 11th time that Russia has used its veto power to stop council action targeting its ally Syria.
“Russia is wasting our time,” U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council after the vote. “Russia has no interest in finding ground with the rest of this council to save the JIM.”
‘Simple and shameful’
“Russia will not agree to any mechanism that might shine a spotlight on the use of chemical weapons by its ally, the Syrian regime. It’s as simple and shameful as that,” she said.
A separate Russian draft resolution that called for changes to the JIM failed to garner enough support, with just four votes in favour.
“Any extension of the JIM’s mandate for us is possible only provided fundamental flaws in its work are rectified,” said Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzya..
