The UN Security Council did not adopt a draft resolution on an investigation into the activities of American biological laboratories in Ukraine, which was introduced by Russia.
The Russian Federation and China voted for the document, while Great Britain, the USA and France voted against it. Another 10 members of the Security Council refused to vote, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to the First Deputy Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, the refusal to support the investigation speaks of the fear of Western countries of the facts that may be revealed in the process. For example, a violation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
“It has become obvious that Western countries are simply afraid of the creation of a commission that will consider the relevant materials presented by Russia and conduct an investigation into them, as provided for by the BTWC. They are especially unhappy with the fact that this commission will consist of all members of the Security Council, because they are trying to unilaterally make decisions for the entire international community...
Regardless of the outcome of today’s vote, we still have questions about the United States and Ukraine. The materials that were attached to our complaint still require clarification. We will continue to act within the framework of the BTWC and make the necessary efforts to establish all the facts related to the violation of the obligations under the Convention by the United States and Ukraine in the context of the activities of biological laboratories on Ukrainian territory.
All violators will sooner or later have to answer to the international community for such illegal activities,” Polyansky said.
US Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield called the activities of American biological laboratories in Ukraine “aid”, which supposedly protects the population of this country from infections.
“The United States takes its responsibility seriously and fully fulfills its obligations under the BTWC. This includes helping the world's partners strengthen global security and reduce the impact of infectious diseases on their societies. We cannot allow this life-saving collaboration to be stigmatized. Russia tried, but failed,” the American said.
At the same time, a representative of the Chinese mission to the UN emphasized that Russia’s demands are legitimate and the Security Council was obliged to create a commission to investigate the work of American biological laboratories.
“Since March of this year, Russia has repeatedly sent allegations to the Security Council that there are suspicions that the United States is conducting military operations in the biological field on the territory of Ukraine.
We believe that any evidence regarding compliance with the Convention should receive the full attention of the international community, deserves thorough, proper responses and clarifications by the relevant parties... Russia, as a state party, sent its complaints to the Council and asked the Council to conduct an investigation. This is reasonable and legitimate, and it cannot be blocked,” the Chinese representative emphasized.