Gatilov: Russia Hopes UN Will Soon Answer Syria's Request to Investigate Use of Chemical Weapon

Mar 21, 2013

MOSCOW, (SANA)- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Gennady Gatilov announced that Russia hopes that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will soon answer Syria's request on holding an investigation into using chemical weapon by terrorist groups in Aleppo Countryside.

On his page on Twitter social network, Gatilov said "We expect that the UN Secretary-General will soon answer Syria's request to hold an investigation into using a chemical weapon on March 19th."

He added that it is necessary to form a neutral and professional team of experts to achieve objective outcomes.

on March 19th , the armed terrorist groups fired a rocket containing chemical materials on Khan al-Asal in Aleppo Countryside as scores of citizens were killed and others were injured.

Churkin Calls For Neutral, Thorough And Objective Investigation

Russia's U.N. Ambassador, President of the U.N. Security Council for March Vitaly Churkin reiterated his country's call for holding a neutral, thorough and objective investigation into the terrorists' use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Russia Today Website quoted Churkin as saying after closed consultations at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, "We ask the Syrian government to investigate the accident and we have experts from several countries including Russia…I think that the UN Secretary-General will form a team encompassing Highly experienced members, and we expect that this investigation will be neutral and objective…This issue will be considered carefully."

He indicated that France and Britain have resorted to an undue tactic which aims at hindering the consultations similar to what happened in Iraq when the US tried to justify its invasion of this country through fabricating information claiming that Iraq possesses mass destruction weapons.

 He added that "he cited similar examples about what happened in Iraq when the Council's members talked about the necessity of sending experts to Syria to investigate the issue of chemical weapons in general," and not only about the accident of firing a rocket with chemical materials on Khan al-Asal in Aleppo by the terrorist groups.

U.N.spokesman Martin Nesirky said that the UN has received a written request from Syria's Permanent Envoy to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari to hold an investigation.

 Chizhov Warns Against Repeating Libyan Scenario in Syria

Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union (EU), Vladimir Chizhov warned that repeating the Libyan scenario by the NATO in Syria will be a "flagrant strategic mistake."

Answering a question on the intentions of repeating the Libyan scenario in Syria, Chizhov said "If there is an element of the political pressure, I don't think that this situation will serve in solving the issues, and the /worst/ is that it will be an outrageous strategic mistake."

He indicated that the mistake also lies in the agreement on implementing what has been announced by France and Britain on lifting the embargo imposed by the EU on importing weapons to the "Syrian opposition".