This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/world/middleeast/kerry-says-syria-should-hand-over-all-chemical-arms.html
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Russia and Syria Seize on Kerry’s Arms Deal Remark | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President Obama called a proposal by Russia on Monday to avert a United States military strike on Syria over chemical weapons use “a potentially positive development” but said he would continue to press for military action to keep the pressure up. | |
| Speaking on CNN during one of six network interviews Monday afternoon, Mr. Obama promised that his administration would “engage with the Russians and the international community to see, can we arrive at something that is enforceable and serious.” | |
| But he said that “if we don’t maintain and move forward with a credible threat of military pressure, I do not think we will actually get the kind of agreement I would like to see.” | |
| “It’s possible, if it’s real,” the president said of the Russian proposal that Syria put its stockpiles of chemical weapons under international supervision and eventually to destroy them. | |
| Mr. Obama’s statements opening the door to the plan came as support for a resolution authorizing force on Capitol Hill seemed to be receding, with even some who had announced support for it now reversing course. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, said Monday evening that he would not take the procedural steps to force an initial vote on authorization of force Wednesday, slowing Senate consideration of the resolution. | |
| A senior Democratic aide that the developments with the Russian proposal were a significant factor in the delay, which will allow members to consider the plan and also hear from the president, who is scheduled to meet with them at the Capitol on Tuesday in advance of his nationally televised speech to explain his rationale for military force. | |
| Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, made the proposal that could avert a strike earlier in the day, seizing on a seemingly offhand remark by Secretary of State John F. Kerry. Traveling in Britain, Mr. Kerry said that Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, could avoid strikes by agreeing to give up his chemical weapons. | |
| “He could turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week — turn it over, all of it, without delay and allow the full and total accounting,” Mr. Kerry said. | |
| Mr. Kerry’s remarks, especially the reference to the short window of time, underscored the urgency of the administration’s preparations for a strike, and it did not appear to signal a shift in policy. The State Department’s spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, later clarified in an e-mail to reporters that Mr. Kerry was simply “making a rhetorical argument about the impossibility and unlikelihood of Assad turning over chemical weapons he has denied using.” | |
| But Mr. Lavrov followed up on the idea, with a proposal that offered a compromise that could avert an American-led strike in response to a poison-gas attack near Damascus last month. | |
| Officials in Syria embraced the idea, as did Britain, France, the United Nations and even some Republican lawmakers in Washington. | |
| In another interview with NBC News, Mr. Obama said he would take the Russian proposal “with a grain of salt initially.” But he told the network that if Syrian officials accept the Russian proposal, “then this could potentially be a significant breakthrough.” | |
| Reacting to another comment by Mr. Kerry — that any attack on Syria would be “unbelievably small” — Mr. Obama said any attack would not be felt like a “pinprick” in Syria. | |
| “The U.S. does not do pinpricks,” he said in the NBC interview. “Our military is the greatest the world has ever known. And when we take even limited strikes, it has an impact on a country like Syria.” | |
| Russia’s surprise proposal appeared to offer the possibility of a diplomatic alternative to military action by addressing the source of attacks that killed hundreds and provoked worldwide condemnation. But the Russian proposal also was viewed with some skepticism by the Obama administration, seeing it as a possible delaying tactic that could undermine Mr. Obama’s already tenuous efforts to push for a military strike. | |
| Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, who was in Moscow, welcomed Russia’s proposal, though he stopped short of pledging that Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, would comply. His remarks, however, tacitly acknowledged that Syria possessed a chemical arsenal, something that Syria has never publicly admitted. Mr. Assad himself refused to confirm or deny Syria’s chemical munitions in a television interview on Sunday with Charlie Rose. | Syria’s foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, who was in Moscow, welcomed Russia’s proposal, though he stopped short of pledging that Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, would comply. His remarks, however, tacitly acknowledged that Syria possessed a chemical arsenal, something that Syria has never publicly admitted. Mr. Assad himself refused to confirm or deny Syria’s chemical munitions in a television interview on Sunday with Charlie Rose. |
| A senior State Department official, who was traveling on the plane with Mr. Kerry en route home from London, where he made the remarks in a news conference, said that the Russians had previewed their proposal with the secretary of state before going public. | A senior State Department official, who was traveling on the plane with Mr. Kerry en route home from London, where he made the remarks in a news conference, said that the Russians had previewed their proposal with the secretary of state before going public. |
| After Mr. Kerry’s news conference in London, conducted with William Hague, Britain’s foreign secretary, Mr. Kerry talked by phone for 14 minutes with Sergey V. Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, as he flew back to Washington, the official said. | After Mr. Kerry’s news conference in London, conducted with William Hague, Britain’s foreign secretary, Mr. Kerry talked by phone for 14 minutes with Sergey V. Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, as he flew back to Washington, the official said. |
| The eager reactions to Russia’s proposal appeared to reflect a broad international desire to avoid a military intervention that could escalate the conflict in Syria in unpredictable ways, although the proposal did not appear to be one that Mr. Kerry or the Obama administration had intended. | The eager reactions to Russia’s proposal appeared to reflect a broad international desire to avoid a military intervention that could escalate the conflict in Syria in unpredictable ways, although the proposal did not appear to be one that Mr. Kerry or the Obama administration had intended. |
| Mr. Lavrov issued the proposal at a hastily scheduled briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow. | |
| “We don’t know whether Syria will agree with this,” he said, “but if the establishment of international control over chemical weapons in the country will prevent attacks, then we will immediately begin work with Damascus. And we will call on the Syrian leadership to not only agree to putting the chemical weapons storage sites under international control but also to their subsequent destruction.” | |
| Such an effort, even if Syria agreed, would be a laborious and prolonged effort, especially since Mr. Assad’s government has shrouded its arsenal in secrecy for decades. As United Nations inspectors discovered in Iraq after the Persian Gulf War in 1991, even an invasive inspection regime can take years to account for chemical stockpiles and never be certain of complete compliance, something that President George W. Bush used to justify the invasion of Iraq in 2003. | Such an effort, even if Syria agreed, would be a laborious and prolonged effort, especially since Mr. Assad’s government has shrouded its arsenal in secrecy for decades. As United Nations inspectors discovered in Iraq after the Persian Gulf War in 1991, even an invasive inspection regime can take years to account for chemical stockpiles and never be certain of complete compliance, something that President George W. Bush used to justify the invasion of Iraq in 2003. |
| Russia’s proposal quickly gained momentum, however, even as Mr. Kerry flew back to Washington on Monday afternoon to attend evening briefings on Capitol Hill to lobby for a congressional endorsement of Mr. Obama’s threats to use force. | Russia’s proposal quickly gained momentum, however, even as Mr. Kerry flew back to Washington on Monday afternoon to attend evening briefings on Capitol Hill to lobby for a congressional endorsement of Mr. Obama’s threats to use force. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, who failed to win parliamentary support for a military strike, endorsed the idea, saying, “it would be hugely welcome,” according to news agencies in Britain. The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said that the proposal could form the basis of a resolution at the Security Council, which has been paralyzed by the war in Syria because of repeated vetoes by Russia and China over what Western and Arab nations have called any meaningful international actions against Mr. Assad’s government. | |
| Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius of France, whose government has joined with the Obama administration in pressing for military intervention, also welcomed the Russian proposition, but said Mr. Assad must “commit without delay” and place all chemical munitions under “international control.” In a statement, Mr. Fabius also called for a Security Council resolution that would carry the threat of “firm consequences” for noncompliance. | Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius of France, whose government has joined with the Obama administration in pressing for military intervention, also welcomed the Russian proposition, but said Mr. Assad must “commit without delay” and place all chemical munitions under “international control.” In a statement, Mr. Fabius also called for a Security Council resolution that would carry the threat of “firm consequences” for noncompliance. |
| In Washington, where the public debate over intervening in Syria has become increasingly divisive, Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan, a Republican who is the chairman of the House’s intelligence committee, expressed cautious support. “Just the fact the Russians have moved tells me having this debate on military action is having a positive outcome,” he said in a telephone interview. | In Washington, where the public debate over intervening in Syria has become increasingly divisive, Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan, a Republican who is the chairman of the House’s intelligence committee, expressed cautious support. “Just the fact the Russians have moved tells me having this debate on military action is having a positive outcome,” he said in a telephone interview. |
| Mr. Rogers said that Congress should still vote a resolution backing American military action as a means of increasing American leverage on the Russians to carry through with any international effort to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons. | Mr. Rogers said that Congress should still vote a resolution backing American military action as a means of increasing American leverage on the Russians to carry through with any international effort to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons. |
| In Moscow, Mr. Lavrov said Russia was prepared to join any effort to dismantle Syria’s arsenal if it would avoid an American-led intervention, though he did not say whether it would support binding action in the Security Council. | In Moscow, Mr. Lavrov said Russia was prepared to join any effort to dismantle Syria’s arsenal if it would avoid an American-led intervention, though he did not say whether it would support binding action in the Security Council. |
| He added significant details to Mr. Kerry’s suggestion, saying that Syria would not only put its chemical weapons under international control but also sign the international Convention on Chemical Weapons, the treaty that bans the manufacture, stockpiling and use of poison gas. | He added significant details to Mr. Kerry’s suggestion, saying that Syria would not only put its chemical weapons under international control but also sign the international Convention on Chemical Weapons, the treaty that bans the manufacture, stockpiling and use of poison gas. |
| Syria is one of seven nations that are not parties to the treaty, the others being Angola, Egypt, Israel, Myanmar, North Korea and South Sudan, a newly founded country that won its independence only in 2011. “We are counting on a quick and, I hope, positive answer,” Mr. Lavrov said. | Syria is one of seven nations that are not parties to the treaty, the others being Angola, Egypt, Israel, Myanmar, North Korea and South Sudan, a newly founded country that won its independence only in 2011. “We are counting on a quick and, I hope, positive answer,” Mr. Lavrov said. |
| Mr. Lavrov’s appearance was his second of the day and appeared calculated to be a direct response to Mr. Kerry. He had appeared with Mr. Moallem, Syria’s foreign minister, earlier on Monday, and both excoriated the United States for threatening military action. Mr. Moallem said an American attack would only aid the Al Qaeda militants who attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. | Mr. Lavrov’s appearance was his second of the day and appeared calculated to be a direct response to Mr. Kerry. He had appeared with Mr. Moallem, Syria’s foreign minister, earlier on Monday, and both excoriated the United States for threatening military action. Mr. Moallem said an American attack would only aid the Al Qaeda militants who attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. |
| The shift in tone between Mr. Lavrov’s two appearances was striking. Mr. Lavrov said he made the proposal to put Syria’s weapons under international control directly to Mr. Moallem, who later told the Interfax news agency that Syria was prepared to accept it because of “the concern of the Russian leadership about the life of our citizens and the security of our country.” | The shift in tone between Mr. Lavrov’s two appearances was striking. Mr. Lavrov said he made the proposal to put Syria’s weapons under international control directly to Mr. Moallem, who later told the Interfax news agency that Syria was prepared to accept it because of “the concern of the Russian leadership about the life of our citizens and the security of our country.” |
| Although Mr. Moallem also serves as deputy prime minister, it remains to be seen whether he has the authority to commit Mr. Assad to such a significant step as the international control and ultimate destruction of an arsenal that Syria has maintained in large part as a deterrent to its enemy next door, Israel, which is widely assumed to have a nuclear arsenal that it has never officially acknowledged. | Although Mr. Moallem also serves as deputy prime minister, it remains to be seen whether he has the authority to commit Mr. Assad to such a significant step as the international control and ultimate destruction of an arsenal that Syria has maintained in large part as a deterrent to its enemy next door, Israel, which is widely assumed to have a nuclear arsenal that it has never officially acknowledged. |
| Mr. Kerry himself expressed skepticism. He went on in his remarks in London to say that he did not believe that Mr. Assad would ever agree to such a step and expressed doubt about whether it would even be feasible as the civil war continues to rage across the country. “But he isn’t about to do it, and it can’t be done,” Mr. Kerry said. Ms. Psaki’s statement said Mr. Assad was “a brutal dictator with a history of play fast and loose with the facts.” | Mr. Kerry himself expressed skepticism. He went on in his remarks in London to say that he did not believe that Mr. Assad would ever agree to such a step and expressed doubt about whether it would even be feasible as the civil war continues to rage across the country. “But he isn’t about to do it, and it can’t be done,” Mr. Kerry said. Ms. Psaki’s statement said Mr. Assad was “a brutal dictator with a history of play fast and loose with the facts.” |
Steven | Michael R. Gordon reported from Washington and London, and Steven Lee Myers from Moscow. Reporting was contributed by Eric Schmitt and Michael D. Shear from Washington, Rick Gladstone from New York, and Scott Sayare from Paris. |
| This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: |
| Correction: September 9, 2013 | Correction: September 9, 2013 |
A previous version of this article misspelled the surname of a State Department spokeswoman. She is Jen Psaki, not Jen Paski. | A previous version of this article misspelled the surname of a State Department spokeswoman. She is Jen Psaki, not Jen Paski. |