All news

Russia’s envoy says Western countries exert pressure on OPCW member-states

A Russian diplomat believes that Western countries exerted pressure on the member-states of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

THE HAGUE, June 27. /TASS/. Western countries exerted pressure on the member-states of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the course of making a decision on changing its mandate and giving it accusatory functions. The Russian side is also aware of blackmail cases, Russian Permanent Representative to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday.

"Our Western partners did not abide by the rules, exerting unprecedented pressure on other countries. Diplomats from this Britain’s support group went to the Foreign Ministries of various countries exerting pressure. We are even aware of some cases of outright blackmail against our closest allies," Shulgin said.

According to Russia’s envoy, China, India and South Africa were among the countries that supported Russia’s stance, while numerous delegations of island nations helped the West to vote during the session, which adopted the British amendments to the OPCW mandate.

"There were many delegations from the island states that literally flooded the conference hall. The Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Saint Kitts and Nevis began to actively promote the British and US proposals. Malicious gossip has it that their Western sponsors paid these delegations’ expenses by actually organizing the trip to The Hague to ensure the necessary results," Shulgin noted. "On the other hand, China, India and South Africa sided with us. If you add together these countries’ population, along with Russia, it will be clear which part of mankind spoke out against the Western camp’s harmful plans.".