The veto threw into doubt whether those responsible for chemical weapons use in Syria will ever be held to account. Eleven of the 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the American resolution, with Russia and Bolivia opposed, and China and Egypt abstaining. The chemical weapons panel, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism or J.I.M., was a collaboration of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which monitors compliance with the treaty banning them. The panel required a new Security Council mandate to continue working beyond 11:59 p.m. Thursday, the expiration of its current mandate. Mr. Walker, who has worked with inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for many years, also rejected Russia’s criticism of the Syria panel.

Source: New York Times November 16, 2017 19:35 UTC