India on Wednesday voted against a draft decision on addressing the threat of chemical weapons at an international conference, even as it said it was against the use of such warfare, PTI reported. India cited “incomplete consultations” for voting against the draft at the conference of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague.
“We have studied this draft very carefully and have consulted widely including with the drafters and the main co-sponsors of the draft decision,” said India’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, Venu Rajamony. “However, we believe that on an issue of such grave importance, the consultations conducted by the sponsors remain incomplete.”
He said India believes that a “draft decision of such far reaching importance and implications should be the end result of a comprehensive and extensive consultation”. India voted against the decision as its concerns had not been addressed, Rajamony said.
The decision, proposed by the United Kingdom, got the support of 82 members, while 24 countries voted against it. Adopting the decision after the vote, the organisation condemned “in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances”. Among other things, the decision also said that whenever chemical weapons are used in the territory of a member nation, perpetrators should be identified and proposed an independent probe.
Rajamony said the use of chemical weapons was abhorrent and “in complete disregard of humanity”, and those who do so must be held accountable. India is willing to discuss with member nations to find ways to counter the use of chemical weapons, he said.
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