The Resolution
The Putin administration offered not just the diplomatic support but also the funds and personnel to avoid U.S. military intervention in Syria. In September, Syria filed the appropriate paperwork, self-reported 23 chemical-weapons sites, and opened their doors to inspectors from the OPCW. On October 14, Syria officially entered into the CWC. Russian experts were involved in every phase of Syria's entrance into the UN convention. Russian Foreign Minister Segio Lavov reported in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant that Russian experts were ready to be involved "in all aspects of future activities--in inspections and in administrative structures that might be set up to coordinate activities between the UN and the OPCW on-site." In addition to personnel, Russia has offered to fund the OPCW inspection and dismantlement of Syria's chemical-weapons arsenals.
The UN resolution that paved the way for Syria's entrance into the CWC authorized member states to "acquire, control, transport, transfer, and destroy chemical weapons." Public Integrity reported that the Russian chemical-weapons demilitarization plant at Shchuch'ye is being discussed at the UN as the final resting place of Syria's chemical-weapons arsenals. The diplomatic solution brought Syria's chemical-weapons program full circle. The CWC that Russian negotiators manipulated to enable the continued operation of their chemical-weapons program has also enabled Russia to reclaim the chemical-weapons program that they helped to create in Syria.
"Without Russia, they cannot do anything," Mirzayanov said of the positive aspects of Syria's entrance into the CWC. "The loopholes are for continuation of development in testing new generations of ch emical weapons. That's on Russian soil, so it's a Russian problem not a Syrian problem. But, Russia will continue these policies," Mirzayanov warned. "They know the loopholes and they're very dangerous loopholes."
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