DISINFO: Lack of coordination with the U.N. Secretariat’s security department led to delay for OPCW inspectors arrival in Douma
SUMMARY
Inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) were unable to reach the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the Syrian town of Douma because of a lack of coordination with the U.N. Secretariat’s security department.
RESPONSE
Prior to the statement by Ryabkov, the British delegation to the OPCW tweeted that Russian and Syrian authorities were denying access to the inspection team. U.N. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on April 16: “The United Nations has provided the necessary clearances for the OPCW team to go about its work in Douma. We have not denied the team any request for it to go to Douma.” On April 14, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres issued a statement on the situation in Syria expressing full support for the OPCW inspection. The security for the sites where the OPCW fact finding mission plans to deploy was under the control of the Russian Military Police and they could not secure the area according to the United Nations Department of Safety and Security. Further debunking by Polygraph.info.