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Speaking exclusively to RT, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Syria’s chemical arms handover will only work if the US and its allies renounce the use of force against Damascus.
"Certainly, this is all reasonable, it will function and will work out, only if the US and those who support it on this issue pledge to renounce the use of force, because it is difficult to make any country – Syria or any other country in the world – to unilaterally disarm if there is military action against it under consideration," President Putin told exclusively to RT on Tuesday.
Putin said the disarmament of Syria’s chemical weapons had been extensively discussed by experts and politicians.
The Russian president said that he and President Barack Obama had “indeed discussed” such a possibility on the sidelines of the G20 summit in St. Petersburg last week.
It was agreed, Putin said, “to instruct Secretary of State [John Kerry] and Foreign Minister [Sergey Lavrov] to get in touch” and “try to move this idea forward.”
President Putin’s comments came shortly after the Syrian government said it would agree to place its chemical weapons arsenal under international control.
Despite voicing “some serious skepticism,” Western countries supported the move, stressing the importance of Assad fulfilling the agreement and surrendering the weapons stockpiles.
Britain said it would like Russia and Syria to show that the proposal to President Bashar Assad is “serious and genuine.”
In Washington, the White House echoed the UK statement, saying it wanted to verify that Syria was serious in its intentions.
Earlier Tuesday, the French government said that the handover of Syria’s chemical weapons to international control should be closely scrutinized. France said it would table a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling on Syria to give up its stockpiles of chemical arms, threatening "extremely serious" consequences if Syria violates its conditions.
Obama’s administration, which last week was firmly insisting on military intervention following the Aug.21 chemical weapons attack, has now changed its position.
In response to Russia’s proposal, Obama said he was willing to “absolutely” put on pause a military strike on Syria if Assad accepts the offer.
The US Senate was initially scheduled to vote on whether to authorize “limited military actions,” but a Senate Democratic leadership aide said it was now not known if the Senate would vote this week on Syria.
"We want to give the president a chance to make his case," the aide said, adding that following President Obama’s speech Tuesday night, Senate leaders would review the situation.
rt.com...
I thought there was a twist in this give up the chemical weapons. The US will NEVER give up its stance for a military strike.
Earlier Tuesday, the French government said that the handover of Syria’s chemical weapons to international control should be closely scrutinized. France said it would table a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling on Syria to give up its stockpiles of chemical arms, threatening "extremely serious" consequences if Syria violates its conditions.
Chrisfishenstein
reply to post by deviant300
This will NEVER happen! Obama (or any US president) will always want to attack to get Assad out of power!
They will never sign something saying that the US will NEVER attack if the chemical weapons are handed over, IMHO of course!
This has been planned, and will be executed to remove Assad from power, this has NOTHING to do with chemical weapons or attacks....Susan Rice was speaking about removing Assad also, there is no care to the USA about Syrian civilians getting attacked by chemicals....This is all about Assad, and of course, MONEY!
PurpleVortex
Sorry Putin, Obama is on a mission impossible. Stay out of his way, he's determined.
dlbott
Chrisfishenstein
reply to post by deviant300
This will NEVER happen! Obama (or any US president) will always want to attack to get Assad out of power!
They will never sign something saying that the US will NEVER attack if the chemical weapons are handed over, IMHO of course!
This has been planned, and will be executed to remove Assad from power, this has NOTHING to do with chemical weapons or attacks....Susan Rice was speaking about removing Assad also, there is no care to the USA about Syrian civilians getting attacked by chemicals....This is all about Assad, and of course, MONEY!
What a load of crap. Same old bull # out of boris it is just a delay tactic to stop the attack. They know if we attack Assad is finished. This is just a delay tactic. Do you have any idea what it would take to secure and destroy this stuff.
Hundreds of troops and several years, yep years, most estimate it will take ten plus years to destroy the weapons. Also, no one is going in there while civil war rages. They know that, thus the offer in the first place.
The bigger picture is the terrorists desperately want this stuff because it will be easy to get into united States and use. Think Boston but with hundreds dead instead of four.
The Bot
Xcouncil=wisdom
For a moment I thought the push for Obama's war was going to die in congress...
Well, now with this, and how backwards out represntatives work...
Now the approval for attack seems more likely.
Especially since Russia's deal is only valid if the US promises absolutely no military action on Syria
YEAH RIGHT!