The agreement, finalized in Malaysia where the two men are on a working visit, could lead to the draft being scheduled for a vote at the Security Council on Friday if there are no objections to it on Thursday by any of the 15 council members.
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Kerry told journalists Thursday that he and Lavrov had worked out the draft resolution to put before the Security Council that would “create a process of accountability, which has been missing”.
The resolution follows months of negotiations between the US, which has long accused the Assad regime of using chemical weapons, and Russian Federation, which has defended its Syrian ally.
The draft resolution fills a gap in assigning blame for chemical weapon attacks so the perpetrators can be brought to justice.
Discussions are inching forward on a new tougher UN measure to ban the use of barrel bombs, building on resolutions that have condemned the practice.
In March 2015, the Council expressed deep concern that toxic chemicals, such as chlorine, had been used as a weapon in Syria – which was the conclusion with a “high degree of confidence” by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission – stressing that those who use such weapons must be held accountable.
The biggest hurdle in the negotiations between the United States and Russian Federation had centered on who would decide on whether to name those responsible for using chemical weapons. But worldwide law bans the use of any chemical compound as a weapon, and the agreement to pursue the perpetrators of such attacks in Syria was seen as something of a breakthrough in the often-conflicting Middle East policies in Moscow and Washington. However neither the group nor the United Nations has a mandate to find out duty.
The investigative panel will be given “full access” to all locations in Syria and allowed to interview witnesses and collect materials, according to the text of the resolution.
Attributing responsibility for poison gas attacks in Syria’s four-year conflict could pave the way for action by the 15-member Security Council.
There have been subsequent assaults in Syria involving chlorine fuel, which isn’t on the record of banned chemical compounds due to its permitted industrial makes use of.
Late last year, the OPCW declared it had removed or destroyed all 1,180 tonnes of declared toxic agents and precursor chemicals.
The senior State Department official said Kerry also reiterated U.S. commitment to promoting conditions for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict in Syria.
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The Syrian government’s support for the resolution and decision to join the OPCW warded off possible U.S. military strikes in the aftermath of the attack, which Damascus denied carrying out. But it includes a passage noting that it may be prepared to impose unspecified “measures” under Chapter 7 of the United Nations charter – a provision that is traditionally invoked to impose sanctions or other penalties on those who fail to comply with the Security Council’s demands.
