Russia, which supports the Syrian government, is responsible for the chemical weapons attacks in Syria, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said today in Paris.
"Even yesterday there were more than 20 civilians, mostly children, victims of an alleged chlorine attack," Tillerson said.
"Regardless of the perpetrators of the attack, Russia ultimately bears responsibility for the victims in Eastern Ghouta," an area near Damascus, said the US Secretary of State, who recalled that the US signed an agreement on chemical disarmament in Syria in 2013.
Tillerson said the recent attacks in Eastern Ghouta raise suspicions that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces may continue to use chemical weapons against their own people.
The head of American diplomacy also criticized Russia for blocking the renewal of the mandate of international investigators on the use of chemical weapons in Syria in the UN Security Council.
"Russia should at least not veto or abstain from a future vote on the issue," added Tillerson, who questioned Russia's overall action in resolving the Syrian crisis.
"Russia's failure to resolve the issue of chemical weapons in Syria makes us question how successful that country has been in resolving the crisis as a whole," said the US Secretary of State.
Tillerson was speaking in Paris, where the US, France and 22 other countries announced the creation of a new organization aimed at identifying and punishing those who use chemical weapons.
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