UNITED NATIONS \u2014 Rival U.S. and Russian resolutions to extend the mandate of experts trying to determine who was responsible for chemical attacks in Syria were defeated Thursday at a heated Security Council meeting that reflected the deteriorating relations between Washington and Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result of the two votes means that the expert body \u2014 the Joint Investigative Mechanism known as the JIM \u2014 will cease operations when its current mandate expires at midnight Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S., its allies and human rights groups called it a serious blow to efforts to hold accountable those responsible for carrying out chemical weapons attacks in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During a three-hour drama, Russia first vetoed the U.S. draft resolution which was supported by 11 of the 15 Security Council members. Bolivia joined Russia in voting \u201cno\u201d and China and Egypt abstained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia\u2019s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia withdrew the Russian resolution over Moscow\u2019s insistence that it be voted on second not first as required under council rules. But using another council rule, Bolivia then resubmitted and called for a vote on that resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It failed to receive the minimum nine \u201cyes\u201d votes required for adoption. Only Russia, China, Bolivia and Kazakhstan voted in favor while seven council members voted against and four abstained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Japan late Thursday proposed a 30-day extension of the JIM and the Security Council was expected to discuss it on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the heart of the dispute was the demand by Russia, Syria\u2019s most important ally, for major changes in the way the JIM operates and the U.S. insistence that the JIM\u2019s current mandate and independence be preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the votes, the United States and Russia blamed each other for ending the JIM\u2019s operations, both insisting they wanted it to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo my Russian friends, the next chemical weapons attack is on your head,\u201d U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said. \u201cBy not having a JIM, you are basically telling the entire world that chemical weapons are OK to use. That\u2019s what we should be embarrassed about today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia\u2019s Nebenzia shot back saying: \u201cToday it became absolutely clear we need a robust professional mechanism that will help to prevent the threat of chemical terrorism in the region, and you need a puppet-like structure to manipulate public opinion \u2014 which on the basis of false information will time after time accuse the Syrian government of violating international norms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who voted against the Russian resolution put forward by Bolivia \u201cbear the full brunt of responsibility for the cessation of the operations of the JIM,\u201d Nebenzia said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia has been highly critical of the JIM\u2019s findings that the Syrian government used chlorine gas in at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015, and used sarin in an aerial attack on Khan Sheikhoun last April 4 that killed about 100 people and affected about 200 others who survived the nerve agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Syria repeated its denial of using chemical weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The JIM has also accused the Islamic State extremist group of using mustard gas in 2015 adsnd again in September 2016 in Um Hosh in Aleppo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nebenzia accused the JIM of \u201cfundamental flaws\u201d in blaming President Bashar Assad\u2019s government for the attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He cited its use of \u201cremote working methods\u201d and failure to visit Khan Sheikhoun, \u201cfocusing solely on dubious testimony from opposition and even terrorist groups, the disregard for the whole range of rules and methods provided for under the Chemical Weapons Convention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haley countered that Russia and its allies \u201cwant a JIM that doesn\u2019t have independence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey want a JIM that doesn\u2019t have reporting,\u201d she said. \u201cThey want a JIM that they can micromanage, or that any member can micromanage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haley noted that this was the 10th veto by Russia to support Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have to realize when a country is playing games with people\u2019s lives,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what is happening here. And it\u2019s been happening for 10 times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vote took place against the backdrop of the military and political situation in Syria, where Assad\u2019s forces have gained the upper hand. A new round of U.N.-hosted Syrian peace talks is scheduled to start in Geneva on Nov. 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haley said: \u201cThe only thing that today has proved is that Russia cannot be trusted in the political process with Syria.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRussia will not be a good and trusted actor because they want to control who\u2019s at fault,\u201d she said. \u201cThey want to control what happens. They want to control that area because they want to work with Iran and Syria to make sure that they have it all under control.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nebenia said Haley \u201cbetrayed what was trying to be hidden all the time, but in fact the whole thing was envisaged and invented to show that Russia should not be trusted in the Syrian political process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not coincidental,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause the political process in Syria is … slowly gaining momentum and Russia is very instrumental in it. And so this is the very opportune moment to tell that Russia should not play the role here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nebenzia said he didn\u2019t think Thursday\u2019s votes would affect the Geneva talks which Russia supports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n