Russia’s defense chief slams US for derailing OPCW work

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has pointed to Washington’s disregard for multilateral agreements and institutions, including in terms of complying with the Iran nuclear deal, stressing that the US has actually derailed the normal work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

"There are quite a few examples of such disregard for multilateral agreements and international institutions. To begin with, the US refused to comply with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program. Secondly, it has actually derailed the normal work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," the minister said at the Moscow Conference on International Security on Wednesday.

Shoigu stressed that new agencies were being created in the OPCW for the upcoming false flags, "which will form the backbone of aggressive decisions against certain states."

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was established in 1997 after the Chemical Weapons Convention came into force. Russia has repeatedly pointed to inconsistencies in OPCW reports, including in the document on the 2017 incident in Syria’s Khan Shaykhun.

The Eighth Moscow Conference on International Security is being held on April 23-25. Its agenda includes crucial issues related to international security. The parties will exchange views on modern military dangers and threats, including on improving the arms control system. The participants will also hash over the situation in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America. The defense ministers from at least 35 countries and more than 1,000 experts from over 100 countries are taking part in the event.