Doorstop interview

JULIE BISHOP: The Australian Government shares the outrage of the British Government over the use of a military grade nerve agent developed by Russia which was used in an attempted assassination in the United Kingdom.

The British Prime Minister Theresa May has made a compelling case on the responsibility of Russia in relation to this attack which would amount to an unlawful use of force on the United Kingdom. Russia has questions to answer, very serious questions, because it has been accused of deploying an illegal weapon against another country. As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council Russia has a particular responsibility to uphold international peace and security.

The Australian Government condemns the use of chemical weapons at any time by any one anywhere. This amounts to the first use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War.

Overnight we have made our concerns known at a meeting of the Organisation of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague and also at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Australia stands in solidarity and supports the United Kingdom in demanding answers from Russia and in taking action against the Russian State. We will continue to engage with the United Kingdom and with other partners to determine what further action should be taken.

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