Moscow Considering All Scenarios Regarding Participation In OPCW - Russian Envoy

Moscow is considering all options regarding its participation in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Russian envoy to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin said on Monday, when asked about potential suspension of Russia's membership.

THE HAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th November, 2018) Moscow is considering all options regarding its participation in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Russian envoy to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin said on Monday, when asked about potential suspension of Russia's membership.

"We are considering all options. At the moment, I would not look that far ahead. Our goal is to ensure that the organization has the budget it deserves: with expenses, with funds necessary to finance its activities linked to the [Chemical Weapons] Convention," Shulgin said at the 23rd session of the conference of the convention participants.

Shulgin added that the Western countries were trying to make it seem as if Russia was isolated in the OPCW, but the reality was different. The Russian envoy said that members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) had made a "strong statement" against the initiative of some of the states to allow the OPCW to attribute blame.

"The statement stresses the unacceptability of any attempts to usurp the prerogatives of the UN Security Council. It is the only body that can make necessary decisions linked to establishing who is responsible in alleged cases of chemical weapons use," Shulgin said.