India abstains on Russia-sponsored draft resolution at UNSC for probe on Ukraine's alleged bio weapons

India has abstained on yet anor resolution involving Ukraine, this time a motion sponsored by Russia at UNSC that sought to establish a commission to investigate claims by Moscow that US and Ukraine are carrying out “military biological activities” in laboratories in Ukraine in violation of biological weapons convention.

resolution failed to get opted Wednesday as only two Council members - Russia and China - voted in its favour, while US, UK and France voted against it and or Council members, including India, abstained.

In explanation of vote, Counsellor A. Amarnath from India’s Permanent Mission to UN said India attaches high importance to Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which is first non-discriminatory disarmament treaty banning a complete category of weapons of mass destruction.

“We remain committed to enhancing effectiveness of BWC and strengning its implementation in letter and spirit,” he said.

Amarnath said that India also reiterates need to negotiate a comprehensive legally binding protocol providing for an effective, universal and non-discriminatory verification mechanism to strengn implementation of Convention.

“This is necessary to strengn BWC and its implementation by State Parties and we hope current situation will provide an impetus for early consideration, negotiation and finalization of such a protocol by State Parties. Factoring in all se aspects, India has decided to abstain from resolution,” he said.

US Ambassor Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in her statement on UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution proposed by Russia on alleged bioweapons in Ukraine, said Washington “voted against this resolution because it is based on disinformation, dishonesty, b faith, and a total lack of respect for this body.” She said Russia has failed to provide any credible evidence to support se false allegations. “And as you can see from vote today, no one is buying it except China. I will not devote any more time, energy, or resources to se lies from Russia. Nor should rest of Security Council. Not while troops still occupy Ukrainian territory. And not while Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian civilians and commit war crimes. Inste of letting Russia waste our time, we should focus on truth and horrors Russia has inflicted upon Ukrainian people.” Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy, speaking before UNSC vote, said vote “will mark an important milestone for Security Council.” In his statement after resolution failed to get opted, Polyanskiy said Moscow “will continue to act within BTWC (Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention) framework and make necessary efforts to establish all facts related to violation by United States and Ukraine of obligations under BTWC in context of activities of biological laboratories on Ukrainian territory. Sooner or later, all perpetrators will have to be accountable for such illegal activities in front of global community anyway.” Referring to comments by Polyanskiy, Thomas-Greenfield said "Russia said this is a milestone. It is. It is a milestone for Russia’s deception and lies. And world sees it. An overwhelming number of States Parties that spoke at Geneva meeting considered that issues raised by Russia were unsubstantiated and h been conclusively dressed. But that wasn’t enough for Russia." Amarnath noted that India h participated in consultations in Geneva in September on matter under consideration and h expressed its views on this issue and h also expressed m during meetings of Council earlier.

“I reiterate that any matter relating to obligations under BWC should be dressed as per provisions of Convention and through consultations and cooperation between relevant parties,” Amarnath said.

Amarnath ded that India would like to underline important role of international cooperation in field of peaceful biological activities and related exchange of scientific and technical information.

"India emphasizes full and effective implementation of Article 10 of Convention and underlines that biological related activities for peaceful purposes that are fully consistent with Convention’s obligations should not be undermined,” he said.

Last week, Russian Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia said at a Security Council meeting that Moscow will put forward draft resolution that will call for setting up and dispatching a commission to investigate claims against US and Ukraine regarding compliance with ir obligations under (BTWC) and activities of biological laboratories in territory of Ukraine.

Nebenzia has said that over a long time, Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over “military biological activities carried out with most direct assistance and participation of US Department of Defense (DoD) in laboratories in territories of former Soviet republics away from North American continent and close to Russian borders.

He has said that such activities are conducted “inter alia indirectly through Pentagon’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and private companies that are permanent contractors of US DoD...This poses a direct threat to biological security” of Russia.

“In course of special military operation in Ukraine, Russian Federation obtained a variety of documents and evidence that disclosed true nature of military biological activities of US DoD and its contractors with Ukraine in military biological area,” he has said.