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| European Union Wants U.N. Report Before Any Military Action in Syria | European Union Wants U.N. Report Before Any Military Action in Syria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| VILNIUS, Lithuania — The European Union said Saturday that a military strike against Syria should be put off until United Nations inspectors submit a preliminary report on a deadly chemical weapons attack near the Syrian capital, Damascus. | |
| The senior foreign policy official for the European Union, Catherine Ashton, said that it was clear that a large-scale chemical weapons attack had occurred on Aug. 21 and that it was “a blatant violation of international law, a war crime and a crime against humanity.” | The senior foreign policy official for the European Union, Catherine Ashton, said that it was clear that a large-scale chemical weapons attack had occurred on Aug. 21 and that it was “a blatant violation of international law, a war crime and a crime against humanity.” |
| Ms. Ashton said the evidence also “seems to indicate” that the Syrian government was responsible because it was the only side in the civil war that has chemical weapons and the means of delivering them in such a substantial quantity. | Ms. Ashton said the evidence also “seems to indicate” that the Syrian government was responsible because it was the only side in the civil war that has chemical weapons and the means of delivering them in such a substantial quantity. |
| But she endorsed the French decision to wait until United Nations inspectors had submitted their report, even though the results might be “preliminary.” | But she endorsed the French decision to wait until United Nations inspectors had submitted their report, even though the results might be “preliminary.” |
| If the United Nations report was submitted soon — a Western European diplomat said possibly around Sept. 15 — it would not greatly delay an American strike under consideration now for which President Obama has decided to seek Congressional approval. Senate and House members return from their recess on Monday when debate on the issue is expected to pick up. Mr. Obama is scheduled to address the nation on Tuesday night about Syria. | |
| On Friday, President François Hollande of France said he would not take military action until the report was submitted. | |
| A Western European official, who asked not to be identified so that he could talk about diplomatic discussions, said Mr. Hollande made that decision to obtain broader support for a French and American military attack from European nations like Germany and Italy, which believe that there should be some sort of United Nations process before force is used. | |
| Germany indicated Saturday that it would support a strong international response in Syria, with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle saying in Vilnius that Berlin had wanted to wait for European foreign ministers to take a common stand before making its decision. With Russia and China wielding veto power on the United Nations Security Council, it is clear that council approval is not politically feasible. | |
| The statement read by Ms. Ashton urged the Security Council to “fulfill its responsibilities” but pointedly did not say that Council approval was needed. | |
| Since the mandate of the United Nations inspectors is limited to establishing whether a chemical attack took place, and not who carried it out, the Obama administration has already asserted that it is largely irrelevant. | Since the mandate of the United Nations inspectors is limited to establishing whether a chemical attack took place, and not who carried it out, the Obama administration has already asserted that it is largely irrelevant. |
| But the administration has been anxious to have French participation in any attack and, thus, has reason to adjust to Mr. Hollande’s decision to wait for the United Nations report, especially if any delay was minimal. | But the administration has been anxious to have French participation in any attack and, thus, has reason to adjust to Mr. Hollande’s decision to wait for the United Nations report, especially if any delay was minimal. |
| After the European Union meeting, Mr. Kerry praised the European Union statement, which he said had endorsed the principle of holding the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria accountable for the attack. But Mr. Kerry did not specifically address the statement’s assertion that an attack should wait until a United Nations report was submitted. | After the European Union meeting, Mr. Kerry praised the European Union statement, which he said had endorsed the principle of holding the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria accountable for the attack. But Mr. Kerry did not specifically address the statement’s assertion that an attack should wait until a United Nations report was submitted. |
Suzanne Daley contributed reporting from Paris. | Suzanne Daley contributed reporting from Paris. |