US State Dept. Preparing For Nov. 6 Deadline On New Anti-Russia Sanctions - Spokesperson

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) The State Department is facing a November 6 deadline by which it must either start consultations on new sanctions against Russia or certify to Congress that Moscow has met certain conditions imposed in the aftermath of an attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino told reporters on Wednesday.

"The Chemical Biological Weapons Act mandates that the State Department certify to the Congress whether Russia has met conditions required by the law three months after the initial determination of the Skripal case. That initial determination was made August 6, and that takes us to November 6, which is the certification deadline," Palladino said.

The United States on August 24 announced that it was imposing new sanctions on Russia under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 in response to the Skripal attack, although Moscow has firmly denied any involvement in the incident.

Palladino explained that the 1991 law requires the State Department to either begin consultations on new sanctions or to certify to the Congress that Russia has met its strict conditions.

"The conditions that we would have to certify are that Russia has ceased and assured that it will not use chemical weapons again, and it has allowed international inspectors to verify those assurances," the spokesperson said. "If we cant make such a certification, the State Department is required to impose a second round of sanctions after consultations with the Congress."

The United States has accused Russia of involvement in the March 4 nerve agent attack on Skripal in the English town of Salisbury, a claim repeatedly denied by Moscow.

The 1991 US law allows for the termination of foreign assistance and arms sales, denial of US government credit or other financial assistance, prohibitions on exports and a suspension of diplomatic relations, among other possible measures.