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European Union Wants U.N. Report Before Any Military Action in Syria Europe Says Syria Strike Should Hinge On U.N. Data
(about 7 hours 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. PARIS — 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.
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 after a meeting in Lithuania that it was clear that a large-scale chemical weapons attack had occurred on Aug. 21 near Damascus, and that it was a “war crime.”
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 that evidence seemed to point to the Syrian government 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 “preliminary” assessment. President François Hollande made the decision to wait for that assessment, European officials said, to obtain broader support for an attack from European nations like Germany and Italy, whose leaders believe that there should be some sort of United Nations process before force is used.
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. And Germany indicated on Saturday that it would support an 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.
On Friday, President François Hollande of France said he would not take military action until the report was submitted. Secretary of State John Kerry, who participated in the European Union meeting before flying here for meetings with his French counterpart, said that President Obama had yet to decide whether to hold off on an attack until the report from the United Nations inspectors 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. But Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, suggested in a joint news conference with Mr. Kerry that waiting for the preliminary assessment would not impose a substantial delay.
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. Mr. Fabius, who made an impassioned case for military action to deter further chemical attacks, said he had been assured by Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations security general, that the assessment would be submitted very soon. A Western European diplomat said it would possibly be ready around Sept. 15.
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 eager 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 it would not greatly delay an American strike for which Mr. Obama is seeking Congressional approval.
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. 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.
The European Union statement appeared to paper over differences in the group’s ranks. It called for a “clear and strong response,” but did not specifically endorse military action.
The statement also urged the United Nations Security Council to “fulfill its responsibilities” but pointedly did not say that council approval was required.
With Russia and China wielding veto power in the Security Council, it is clear that council approval for any military action is not politically feasible.
French officials appeared to have calculated that waiting for the submission of a preliminary report from the inspectors would be enough for some European nations to tell their constituents that action had not been taken until after some sort of United Nations process.
Standing side by side, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Fabius sought to counter the impression that they were outnumbered by the skeptics.
The United States and France would be the two major powers in any attack, but Mr. Kerry insisted that he had offers from other nations, which he did not identify.
“There are a number of countries, in the double digits, who are prepared to take military action,” Mr. Kerry said. “We have more countries prepared to take military action than we actually could use in the kind of military action being contemplated.”

Suzanne Daley contributed reporting from Paris.

Suzanne Daley contributed reporting from Paris.