OPCW's attributive function to make Russia question prospects in this organization - Duma deputy
MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) - Now that the attributive function has been assigned to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Russia should assess the necessity of its participation in the future of the organization, according to Dmitry Novikov, first deputy head of the State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee.
"Against this backdrop we need to assess the prospects of our participation in this organization," Novikov told Interfax on Tuesday.
"From the outset Russia has taken a negative position on the matter, it is an absolutely fair position, it was backed by China.
"At the initial stage, it will, of course, be necessary to do everything for the OPCW to represent more adequately the interests of global community countries, but if its evolution heads in the extremely opposite direction, there will be something to think about," Novikov said.
On Tuesday the conference's attendees voted against Russia's and China's proposal to form a group of experts to assess the legality of the draft to assign attributive functions to the OPCW and approved the draft budget allocating funding for the mechanism which determines who is to blame for chemical attacks.
Of the 126 attendees 99 voted "for" (the required minimum is 84) and 27, including Russia, voted "against" the motion.
The delegates also rejected all three drafts prepared by Russia and Iran for the draft budget amendments. Their proposal outraged the Western countries which said the amendments, if approved, would mean no funding for the OPCW's attributive mechanism.