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| Syria conflict: France to seek tough UN resolution on chemical weapons | Syria conflict: France to seek tough UN resolution on chemical weapons |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| France will propose a resolution to the UN security council on Tuesday aimed at forcing Syria to make public its chemical weapons programme, place it entirely under international control and dismantle it, or face "extremely serious consequences". | |
| The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said France had reacted with "interest but also with caution" to the Russian proposal that Syria place its weapons under international control. | The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said France had reacted with "interest but also with caution" to the Russian proposal that Syria place its weapons under international control. |
| Paris, still wary of falling into a trap or "diversionary" tactic, had therefore decided to push immediately for a UN resolution under chapter 7 of the UN charter which would make "concrete" the notion of the Syrian regime opening up its chemical weapons arsenal for inspection and dismantlement, Fabius said. | Paris, still wary of falling into a trap or "diversionary" tactic, had therefore decided to push immediately for a UN resolution under chapter 7 of the UN charter which would make "concrete" the notion of the Syrian regime opening up its chemical weapons arsenal for inspection and dismantlement, Fabius said. |
| The French proposal came as the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said Moscow and Damascus were working on a plan in consultation with the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). | The French proposal came as the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said Moscow and Damascus were working on a plan in consultation with the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). |
| Ban said he would urge the security council to demand the immediate transfer of Syria's chemical weapons to internationally controlled sites inside the country where they could be destroyed. | Ban said he would urge the security council to demand the immediate transfer of Syria's chemical weapons to internationally controlled sites inside the country where they could be destroyed. |
| The director general of the OPCW, Ahmet Üzümcü, pointed out that the chemical weapons convention "was based on zero tolerance for chemical weapons", suggesting a selective approach would not be acceptable. | The director general of the OPCW, Ahmet Üzümcü, pointed out that the chemical weapons convention "was based on zero tolerance for chemical weapons", suggesting a selective approach would not be acceptable. |
| Keen to regain the initiative on the Syria weapons issue after Moscow's proposal, France stipulated the five conditions of the resolution that would be put to the 15-nation UN body as early as Tuesday night. Fabius said the resolution would condemn the "chemical massacre" committed on 21 August "by the Syrian regime". | Keen to regain the initiative on the Syria weapons issue after Moscow's proposal, France stipulated the five conditions of the resolution that would be put to the 15-nation UN body as early as Tuesday night. Fabius said the resolution would condemn the "chemical massacre" committed on 21 August "by the Syrian regime". |
| It would demand that the Syrian regime "shed all light" on its chemical weapons programme without delay, placing it under international control and dismantling it. Syria must put in place a complete procedure to allow full inspections of chemical weapons and must become party to the chemical weapons convention. There would be extremely serious consequences if these obligations were violated. | It would demand that the Syrian regime "shed all light" on its chemical weapons programme without delay, placing it under international control and dismantling it. Syria must put in place a complete procedure to allow full inspections of chemical weapons and must become party to the chemical weapons convention. There would be extremely serious consequences if these obligations were violated. |
| Finally, "the authors" of the 21 August chemical attacks must face legal sanctions via the international criminal court (ICC). | Finally, "the authors" of the 21 August chemical attacks must face legal sanctions via the international criminal court (ICC). |
| It was not clear whether Russia would go along with a chapter 7 resolution, as it would open the door to punitive measures possibly including force. Furthermore, Russia and China have continually resisted the Syrian conflict being referred to the ICC for investigations of war crimes. | It was not clear whether Russia would go along with a chapter 7 resolution, as it would open the door to punitive measures possibly including force. Furthermore, Russia and China have continually resisted the Syrian conflict being referred to the ICC for investigations of war crimes. |
| Asked if the UN initiative meant the option of military force was now officially off the agenda, Fabius said Paris would explore the possibility of full Syrian chemical weapons control in good faith but with caution, and "all options are still on the table". | Asked if the UN initiative meant the option of military force was now officially off the agenda, Fabius said Paris would explore the possibility of full Syrian chemical weapons control in good faith but with caution, and "all options are still on the table". |
| He said: "The Syrian people have suffered too much" and France was seeking a "firm, precise and verifiable" response to the chemical weapons use. | He said: "The Syrian people have suffered too much" and France was seeking a "firm, precise and verifiable" response to the chemical weapons use. |
| "From the start, France's aim has been to limit the chemical weapons threat and protect the Syrian people," he said. | "From the start, France's aim has been to limit the chemical weapons threat and protect the Syrian people," he said. |
| Fabius said he expected a "nearly immediate" commitment from Syria. He said Russia had information about Damascus's chemical weapons stockpile, and expressed hope that this time a tough resolution on Syria would not be blocked – an allusion to a string of efforts led by western powers at the UN body in recent months that were blocked by Russia and China. | Fabius said he expected a "nearly immediate" commitment from Syria. He said Russia had information about Damascus's chemical weapons stockpile, and expressed hope that this time a tough resolution on Syria would not be blocked – an allusion to a string of efforts led by western powers at the UN body in recent months that were blocked by Russia and China. |
| France, the former colonial power in Syria, has been leading tough talking on the Syrian chemical weapons issue from the start, insisting the regime must be punished and Paris is ready for military action within an international coalition. Earlier on Tuesday, Fabius had told French radio that the new Russian proposal showed that "our firmness" had paid off. | France, the former colonial power in Syria, has been leading tough talking on the Syrian chemical weapons issue from the start, insisting the regime must be punished and Paris is ready for military action within an international coalition. Earlier on Tuesday, Fabius had told French radio that the new Russian proposal showed that "our firmness" had paid off. |
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