Press release

Foreign Secretary statement on UN Joint Investigative Mechanism vote

UK disappointed at the non-renewal of the mandate for the UN Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (UN-OPCW) JIM on chemical weapons in Syria.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Boris Johnson
• Published: 24 October 2017
• Last updated: 25 October 2017 — See all updates

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

The United Nations Security Council considering the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism on chemical weapons in Syria.

Speaking following the United Nations Security Council vote, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

We are deeply disappointed that the mandate for the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), which is impartial and independent, has not been renewed.

Last year the JIM found that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against its people on no fewer than 3 occasions. The JIM will be reporting in the coming days on responsibility for a further 2 chemical weapons attacks, including in Khan Sheikhoun in April.

Russia’s veto at the UN Security Council means that in a month the JIM will cease to exist. It will no longer be able to do its work to investigate who is responsible for use of chemical weapons in Syria. The veto suggests that the Syrian regime has something to hide and risks letting both Asad forces and Daesh off the hook for these heinous crimes. In 2013, Russia said it had secured Syria’s agreement to destroy all its chemical weapons. Since then, the JIM has found the Syrian regime used chemical weapons 3 times. Russia’s response is not to redouble its efforts to ensure disarmament, but to shut down the investigation.

While we are deeply disappointed, the United Kingdom will not let Russia’s actions stop us from working with international partners to seek justice for victims and to prevent the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere.

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @BorisJohnson and Facebook

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Media enquiries

For journalists

Email newsdesk@fco.gov.uk

Published 24 October 2017
Last updated 25 October 2017 + show all updates

1. 25 October 2017

   Russian translation added

2. 24 October 2017

   First published.