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/2013/09/13/world/middleeast/united-states-and-russia-far-apart-as-kerry-arrives-in-geneva-for-syria-talks.html

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
U.S. to Gauge Viability of Arms Plan in Russia Talks U.S. to Gauge Viability of Arms Plan in Russia Talks
(about 2 hours later)
GENEVA — Secretary of State John Kerry and a team of American arms control experts arrived here Thursday to begin talks with their Russian counterparts on a plan to secure and dispose of Syria’s chemical weapons.GENEVA — Secretary of State John Kerry and a team of American arms control experts arrived here Thursday to begin talks with their Russian counterparts on a plan to secure and dispose of Syria’s chemical weapons.
American officials said they were planning a series of early tests to determine if the Russian government, and more importantly President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, were serious about accepting international control of Syria’s huge chemical arsenal. American officials said they were planning a series of early tests to determine if the Russian government, and, more important, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, were serious about accepting international control of Syria’s huge chemical arsenal.
One test is the willingness of Russia and Syria to accept “a rapid beginning to international control” that would preclude the Assad government from accessing and using chemical weapons, said a senior State Department official who was traveling on Mr. Kerry’s plane. One test is the willingness of Russia and Syria to accept “a rapid beginning to international control” that would preclude the Assad government from gaining access to chemical weapons or using them, said a senior State Department official who was traveling on Mr. Kerry’s plane.
Another test is how much candor the Syrian government is prepared to show about its chemical weapons stocks and production facilities.Another test is how much candor the Syrian government is prepared to show about its chemical weapons stocks and production facilities.
“There are some specific things that we can ask for, and see if they get delivered very quickly, that will give us an early sense of whether there is reality here or not,” the State Department official said. “There are some specific things that we can ask for, and see if they get delivered very quickly, that will give us an early sense of whether there is reality here or not,” said State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under department protocols.
The Syrian government, the official said, could “declare all of their stockpile quickly.”The Syrian government, the official said, could “declare all of their stockpile quickly.”
Mr. Kerry plans to meet late Thursday afternoon with Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations envoy who would play a major role if talks on a potential political settlement in Syria are resumed. Mr. Kerry plans to meet late Thursday afternoon with Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations envoy who would play a major role if talks on a potential political settlement in Syria were resumed.
Mr. Kerry will meet his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, and his delegation Thursday evening. The American-Russian talks will continue on Friday and probably on Saturday. Mr. Kerry will meet his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov, and his delegation Thursday evening. The American-Russian talks will continue on Friday and probably on Saturday.
The meetings will take place at the same Geneva hotel where then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Mr. Lavrov with a red “reset” button in 2009 to symbolize the Obama administration’s efforts to improve ties with Moscow — an effort that so far has been largely stymied. The meetings will take place at the same Geneva hotel where Hillary Rodham Clinton, then the secretary of state, presented Mr. Lavrov with a red “reset” button in 2009 to symbolize the Obama administration’s efforts to improve ties with Moscow — an effort that so far has been largely stymied.
American officials have been hoping the two sides can cobble together an effective plan but are wary of being drawn into prolonged talks that would serve as a delaying tactic to preclude an American-led military strike. American officials have been hoping that the two sides can cobble together an effective plan but are wary of being drawn into prolonged talks that would serve as a delaying tactic to prevent an American-led military strike.
The task of coming up with a verifiable plan to inspect, control and dispose of Syria’s chemical weapons during a civil war is daunting. The task of coming up with a verifiable plan to inspect, control and dispose of Syria’s chemical weapons during a civil war is daunting. Though Obama administration officials have said the problem of Syria’s chemical weapons has been discussed with the Russians for more than a year, the two sides have not yet talked about the problem in detail.
Though Obama administration officials have said that the problem of Syria’s chemical weapons has been discussed with the Russians for more than a year, the two sides have not yet talked about the problem in detail. For example, the United States and Russia have yet to compare intelligence on the size of Syria’s chemical stocks, their main elements and where they are located. American officials have declassified intelligence reports and plan to begin that process here.
For example, the United States and Russia have yet to compare intelligence on the size of Syria’s chemical stocks, its main elements and where they are located. American officials have declassified intelligence reports and plan to begin that process here.
“What we will be looking at is the chemical weapons stockpiles, the production facilities, precursor chemicals and to the extent that there are munitions that are used to spread those chemical weapons in whatever manner,” the State Department official said.“What we will be looking at is the chemical weapons stockpiles, the production facilities, precursor chemicals and to the extent that there are munitions that are used to spread those chemical weapons in whatever manner,” the State Department official said.
How to protect any inspectors who would examine Syria’s weapons and which nations would supply the monitors are also important questions.How to protect any inspectors who would examine Syria’s weapons and which nations would supply the monitors are also important questions.
While American officials are still waiting for the Russians to present a detailed plan, some elements were described by Russian officials and in news reports in Moscow.While American officials are still waiting for the Russians to present a detailed plan, some elements were described by Russian officials and in news reports in Moscow.
The proposal that Russia has presented for resolving the crisis over chemical weapons in Syria, presented to the United States and other nations on Wednesday, would unfold in stages that could take months to put into place. The proposal that Russia has presented for resolving the crisis over chemical weapons in Syria would unfold in stages that could take months to put into place.
Speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan, Mr. Lavrov said the first step would be for Syria to sign the international Convention on Chemical Weapons, which bans the manufacture, storage and use of the weapons.Speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan, Mr. Lavrov said the first step would be for Syria to sign the international Convention on Chemical Weapons, which bans the manufacture, storage and use of the weapons.
After that, according to a diplomatic official cited by the newspaper Kommersant, Syria would be required to declare the sites of its chemical arsenal to the organization that oversees the treaty. Inspectors would then be dispatched to verify those declarations, a potentially laborious effort complicated by the uncertain security situation in the country.After that, according to a diplomatic official cited by the newspaper Kommersant, Syria would be required to declare the sites of its chemical arsenal to the organization that oversees the treaty. Inspectors would then be dispatched to verify those declarations, a potentially laborious effort complicated by the uncertain security situation in the country.
Mr. Lavrov, in remarks posted on the Foreign Ministry’s Web site, said that he and Mr. Kerry would be accompanied in their talks by disarmament experts from both countries “to determine which steps are concretely required in order to safeguard the corresponding storage places and arsenals.” Mr. Lavrov, in remarks posted on the Foreign Ministry’s Web site, said he and Mr. Kerry would be accompanied in their talks by disarmament experts from both countries “to determine which steps are concretely required in order to safeguard the corresponding storage places and arsenals.”
American officials said that Mr. Kerry and Mr. Lavrov will not be negotiating the terms of a U.N. resolution in Geneva. That would be done at the United Nations. But the technical talks here will inform that process. American officials said Mr. Kerry and Mr. Lavrov would not be negotiating the terms of a United Nations resolution in Geneva. That will be done at the United Nations. But the technical talks here will inform that process.
The French, with American and British support, have drafted a Security Council resolution that would authorize the use of force under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter if Syria balked at complying with a disarmament plan. In contrast, the Russians have proposed that the president of the Security Council issue a nonbinding statement.The French, with American and British support, have drafted a Security Council resolution that would authorize the use of force under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter if Syria balked at complying with a disarmament plan. In contrast, the Russians have proposed that the president of the Security Council issue a nonbinding statement.
Mr. Lavrov has suggested that the proposal would only succeed if the United States abandoned the threat of force, but it was not clear whether the Russians would insist on an explicit commitment from the Americans or others not to launch strikes in exchange for Syria’s cooperation with international inspectors. Mr. Lavrov has suggested that the proposal will succeed only if the United States abandons the threat of force, but it is not clear whether the Russians will insist on an explicit commitment from the Americans or others not to launch strikes in exchange for Syria’s cooperation with international inspectors.
President Barack Obama’s decision to delay any military action and explore a disarmament plan with the Russians, who have been one of the main arms suppliers to the Assad government, has distressed much of the Syrian opposition. President Obama’s decision to delay any military action and explore a disarmament plan with the Russians, who have been one of the main arms suppliers to the Assad government, has distressed much of the Syrian opposition. One American official who deals with the Syrian rebels said they were upset by the development.
One American official who deals with the Syrian rebels said they were “upset” by the development.
“They don’t trust this at all,” he said. “So we’re asking them not to prejudge. I mean, what matters to Syrians inside Syria is for chemical weapons not to be used again.”“They don’t trust this at all,” he said. “So we’re asking them not to prejudge. I mean, what matters to Syrians inside Syria is for chemical weapons not to be used again.”
In a recent statement, General Salim Idris, the head of the military wing of the Syrian opposition, rejected the Russian initiative and said that the Syrians who carried out the Aug. 21 chemical attack near Damascus that started the current crisis must be punished. In a recent statement, Gen. Salim Idris, the head of the military wing of the Syrian opposition, rejected the Russian initiative and said the Syrians who carried out the Aug. 21 chemical attack near Damascus that started the current crisis must be punished.
Mr. Lavrov said that the meeting in Geneva would also provide an opportunity to discuss reviving the stalled effort he and Mr. Kerry announced in Moscow in May to organize an international conference between Syria’s government and rebel forces aimed at finding a political resolution to the civil war. Mr. Lavrov said the meeting in Geneva would also provide an opportunity to discuss reviving the stalled effort he and Mr. Kerry announced in Moscow in May to organize an international conference between Syria’s government and rebel forces aimed at finding a political resolution to the civil war. He said Syria’s government had agreed to attend those talks but the United States and other nations had failed to persuade “the irreconcilable Syrian opposition” to do so.
He said that Syria’s government had agreed to attend those talks but that the United States and other nations had failed to persuade “the irreconcilable Syrian opposition” to do so. Adding to the complexity of the diplomatic task is the reality that even if a deal is reached, it will take a year or more to destroy Syria’s chemical stores. One estimate by Pentagon officials determined that Mr. Assad has 1,400 tons of sarin, VX and mustard agents, and that it would take at least 200 to 300 days to take control of the weapons and, short of destruction, make them unusable.
Adding to the complexity of the diplomatic task is the reality that even if a deal is reached, it would take a year or more to destroy Syria’s chemical stores. One estimate by Pentagon officials determined that Mr. Assad has 1,400 tons of sarin, VX and mustard agents, and that it would take at least 200 to 300 days to take control of the weapons and, short of destruction, to make them unusable. “But we don’t have ideal conditions — far from it,” said one senior official who has studied the problem intensively, referring to the raging civil war in Syria. Until the chemical weapons are neutralized, they will have to be heavily guarded to keep both Mr. Assad’s forces and rebel groups from seizing them. But it is unclear who would be willing to take on that task in the midst of the fighting. Mr. Obama repeated on Tuesday that there would be no American “boots on the ground” in Syria.
“But we don’t have ideal conditions — far from it,” said one senior official who has studied the problem intensively, referring to the raging civil war in Syria. Until the chemical weapons are neutralized, they would have to be heavily guarded to keep both Mr. Assad’s forces and rebel groups from seizing them. But it is unclear who would be willing to take on that task in the midst of the fighting. Mr. Obama repeated on Tuesday that there would be no American “boots on the ground” in Syria.

Michael R. Gordon reported from Geneva, and Steven Lee Myers from Moscow.

The meetings will take place at the same Geneva hotel wherethen Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Mr. Lavrov with a red"reset” button in 2009 to symbolize the Obama administration’sefforts to improve ties with Moscow--an effort that so far has been largelystymied.

Michael R. Gordon reported from Geneva, and Steven Lee Myers reported from Moscow.