German Think Tank Warns Against OPCW Politicization Due To Expanded Mandate

The expansion of the mandate of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to attributing blame for chemical weapons attacks boosts the arms control regime but also threatens to politicize the body's work, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) said on Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th August, 2018) The expansion of the mandate of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to attributing blame for chemical weapons attacks boosts the arms control regime but also threatens to politicize the body's work, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) said on Monday.

"On 27 June 2018, the majority of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) States Parties adopted a decision to expand the mandate of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) It also strengthens chemical weapons control because the OPCW will now hopefully be able make reliable statements on who is responsible for the continuing use of chemical weapons. However, it also risks politicising the Technical Secretariat and is likely to further complicate preparations for the CWCs Fourth Review Conference, taking place from 21-30 November 2018," SWP said in a comment, posted on its website.

According to the think tank, the move is likely to turn the OPCW into "the focus of political conflicts," since the organization will be able to gather information "specifically intended to identify perpetrators," instead of "the mere gathering of facts.

"

The think tank notes that the move has already deepened a political gap between Western countries and Russia and its allies, who oppose the move.

The expansion of the OPCW mandate was endorsed at the special OPCW conference in June in line with the UK-drafted motion. Moscow has said that it will not recognize the decision as legitimate, since only the UN Security Council is eligible to make such judgments, while the OPCW is only tasked with conducting probes.

The ongoing rift has stemmed from differences between Russia and the OPCW on the issue of chemical attacks in Syria as the organization blames the Syrian government troops for a number of chemical attacks in the country, while Moscow insists that the accusations are groundless.

SWP is a Berlin-based foundation, which advises the German government and parliament on foreign and security policy issues.