"Russia again vetoed a U.N. resolution Friday that would extend the mandate of the expert body charged with determining responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria, dooming its operation and making it exceedingly difficult to hold anyone accountable for the deaths of hundreds of civilian victims.
It was Russia's second veto in 24 hours of a resolution to keep the Joint Investigative Mechanism, or JIM, in operation. And it was Russia's 11th veto of a Security Council resolution dealing with Syria, its close ally.
Russia cast its latest veto Friday night on a last-ditch resolution by Japan to extend the mandate for 30 days for further discussions. It was supported by 12 of the 15 council members with Bolivia joining Russia in voting "no" and China abstaining.
The first Russian veto on a U.S.-sponsored resolution, and Russia's failure to get the minimum nine 'yes' votes on its rival resolution during a highly contentious three-hour council meeting Thursday, reflected the deterioration of U.S.-Russian relations.
At the heart of the dispute is the demand by Russia for major changes in the way the JIM operates, and the United States' insistence that the current mandate be extended and the JIM's independence be preserved.
U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council after the vote the veto 'shows us that Russia has no interest in finding common ground with the rest of this council to save the JIM.'
'Russia will not agree to any mechanism that might shine a spotlight on the use of chemical weapons by its ally, the Syrian regime,' she said. 'It's as simple and sinful as that.'
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that by vetoing the JIM's renewal 'Russia has sent a clear message that it does not value the lives of the victims of chemical weapons attacks.'..."