The delay for the OPCW’s FFM team to enter #Duma & commence their investigation, is at the request of The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS).
opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW…
opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW…
.2/ On 16 April, we received confirmation from the National Authority of the Syrian Arab Republic that, under agreements reached to allow the evacuation of the population in Ghouta, the Syrian military were unable to enter Douma.
.3/ The security for the sites where the FFM plans to deploy was under the control of the Russian Military Police.
.4/ The UNDSS made the necessary arrangements with the Syrian authorities to escort the team to a certain point & then for the escort to be taken over by the Russian Military Police.
.5/ However, the UNDSS preferred to first conduct a reconnaissance visit to the sites, which took place yesterday. FFM team members did not participate in this visit.
.6/ On arrival at Site 1, a large crowd gathered and the advice provided by the UNDSS was that the reconnaissance team should withdraw. At Site 2, the team came under small arms fire and an explosive was detonated. The reconnaissance team returned to Damascus.
.7/ The UNDSS will continue to work with the Syrian National Authority, the local Councils in Douma, and the Russian Military Police to review the security situation. At present, we do not know when the FFM team can be deployed to Doum
.8/ I shall only consider such deployment following approval by the UNDSS, and provided that our team can have unhindered access to the sites.
.9/ For those of you who are not familiar with the works of the UNDSS, in effect the security advising body for the U.N., no delegate or U.N. related organisation can move in volatile areas without being given the clearance & go ahead by the UNDSS.
.10/ It is irrelevant whether journalists, government officials, or aliens for that matter, visit any particular site. If the UNDSS deems it unsafe then any UN org in question cannot travel there. They will only do so when they get clearance from UNDSS itself. Not from any1 else.
.11/ FYI: This is not just the UNDSS’s role in Syria nor is it limited to Duma... the same system applies everywhere the U.N has presence and where security issues are a concern. The same system of checks and balances are used and also applied in Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria etc...
.12/ @threadreaderapp please unroll. Thanks.
