Russia on Thursday pushed for measures at the United Nations to monitor extremist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda fighting in Syria, warning of a "clear and present threat" that they could stage chemical attacks, possibly in Europe. Russia and China presented a draft Security Council resolution that calls on all countries, in particular those neighboring Syria such as Turkey and Iraq, to report any move by armed groups to acquire or produce chemical weapons.
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the measure would address the threat of chemical terrorism. "I have not heard anybody claim that they are concerned that the Syrian government may use chemical weapons in a subway in a European city — all those things are happening with the terrorists," Churkin told reporters.
"We know that they there is a strong concern, with reports that thousands of them have moved to Europe."
"Could some of them have brought with them components of chemical weaponsIJ Could some of them have brought to a European city or European country their knowledge of how to build chemical weaponsIJ"
"Obviously, this is a clear and present threat." The draft resolution was presented during a closed-door council meeting to discuss progress in a UN-mandated investigation to determine who is behind chemical attacks in Syria.
The joint investigative mechanism was set up last year after evidence surfaced of chlorine gas attacks on three Syrian villages in 2014 that left 13 dead. Russia reluctantly backed a resolution setting up the JIM after rejecting western claims that the Damascus regime was behind the chlorine gas attacks.