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Syria crisis: Geneva talks on chemical weapons enter second day Kerry calls Syria chemical weapons talks 'constructive'
(about 1 hour later)
The US and Russian foreign ministers, John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov, are meeting for a second round of talks on how to secure Syria's chemical weapons. US Secretary of State John Kerry has described as "constructive" talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on securing Syria's chemical weapons.
But their talks in Geneva with UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi began with the wider issue of peace in Syria. The two men began a second day of talks in Geneva by meeting UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to discuss the wider issue of peace in Syria.
Speaking afterwards, the three men said they had agreed to meet again later in the month to prepare for a long-delayed peace conference. Talks between Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov on the weapons issue began on Thursday and could continue over the weekend.
Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov are trying to reach agreement on the weapons' issue. Mr Kerry said they were working hard to find "common ground".
The BBC's Paul Adams in Geneva says it appears large disagreements still exist between the two governments. The BBC's Paul Adams in Geneva says this is a moment of diplomatic momentum over Syria which has not been seen for a couple of years and both parties want to make the most of that.
Meanwhile, the Syrian rebels say President Bashar al-Assad's decision to give up his chemical arsenal will not stop the killing. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called Damascus's decision to join the Chemical Weapons Convention "an important step towards the resolution of the Syrian crisis" and said it showed the "serious intention" of President Assad "to follow this path".
Free Syrian Army spokesperson Louay Moqdad told the BBC government forces still have plenty of conventional weapons at their disposal and the move is an attempt to "buy time" with the help of the Russians. The leaders of Syria's other key allies, China and Iran - meeting at a regional summit in Kyrgyzstan - also welcomed President Assad's move.
The leaders of Syria's key allies, China, Russia and Iran - who are meeting at a regional summit in Kyrgyzstan - welcomed Damascus's decision to join the Chemical Weapons Convention. But Syrian rebels say it will not stop the killing. Free Syrian Army spokesperson Louay Moqdad told the BBC Mr Assad still has plenty of conventional weapons at his disposal and he is attempting to "buy time" with the help of the Russians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called it an "an important step towards the resolution of the Syrian crisis" and said it showed the "serious intention" of President Assad "to follow this path". 'Deeply committed'
Syrian conditions Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov met UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi at the UN headquarters in Geneva to discuss his attempts to keep efforts for a peace process on the table.
UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov at the UN headquarters in Geneva in an attempt to keep diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syria conflict on the table. Speaking afterwards at a brief news conference, Mr Kerry said they planned to meet again on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later in the month to try and set a date for a long delayed peace conference, known as Geneva 2.
Calling the meeting constructive, Mr Kerry said they planned to meet again on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later in the month to try and set a date for the so-called Geneva 2 conference. He said his talks with Mr Lavrov so far had been "constructive" but progress in New York would depend on "the capacity to have success here in the next hours, days, on the subject of the chemical weapons".
Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov will continue their talks on finding common ground on the question of bringing Syria's chemical weapons under international control, which could continue over the weekend. He said both the US and Russia were "deeply committed to a negotiated solution" to the conflict in Syria and he and Mr Lavrov were "working hard to find the common ground to be able to make that happen".
After their first meeting, on Thursday, the two men said they hoped to avoid the threat of US military action against Syria. Mr Lavrov said he welcomed the chance to discuss the "longer term goal" of peace in Syria, and that now Syria has joined the Chemical Weapons Convention it is necessary "to design a road which would make sure that this issue is resolved quickly, professionally, as soon as is practical".
Russia announced its proposal for dealing with the escalating chemical weapons crisis on Monday, as the US Congress was preparing to debate whether to back President Barack Obama's moves towards military strikes.
The UN has confirmed it has received documents from Syria on joining the Chemical Weapons Convention, a key step in the Russian plan.
President Assad said data on chemical weapons would start to be passed to the UN after 30 days.
But Mr Kerry rejected this, saying such standard procedures were not relevant when chemical weapons had already been used.
Washington accuses the Syrian government of killing hundreds of people in a chemical attack in the Ghouta area of the capital, Damascus, on 21 August. The government denies the allegation, blaming rebels.
In an interview with Russian TV, President Assad cautioned that Russia's proposal was "not unilateral", adding: "Syria will accept it if America stops military threats and if other countries supplying the rebels with chemical weapons also abide by the agreement."
Syria's envoy to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, later said that "legally speaking", Syria was now a full member of the convention.
'Not a game'
While UN chief Ban Ki-moon welcomed the application, the UN would not immediately confirm that it had been accepted.
Diplomats said it was possible that the application still had missing elements and it could be sent back to Damascus.
Before Thursday's talks, Mr Kerry said the world was watching to see whether the Assad government would honour its commitments to give up its chemical arsenal.
"This is not a game. It has to be real, it has to be comprehensive, it has to be verifiable, it has to be credible, it has to be... implemented in a timely fashion. Finally, there ought to be consequences if it doesn't take place," he said.
Mr Lavrov said a "solution" to the chemical weapons issue in Syria would make any military strike by the United States unnecessary.
The US and Russia have sent large teams to Geneva that include weapons experts as well as diplomats.The US and Russia have sent large teams to Geneva that include weapons experts as well as diplomats.
If the talks in Geneva are successful, the US hopes the disarmament process will be agreed in a UN Security Council resolution. If the talks are successful, the US hopes the disarmament process will be agreed in a UN Security Council resolution.
However, Russia regards as unacceptable any resolution backed by military force, or a resolution that blames the Syrian government for chemical attacks.However, Russia regards as unacceptable any resolution backed by military force, or a resolution that blames the Syrian government for chemical attacks.
Moscow has already objected to a draft resolution that would be enforced by Chapter VII of the UN charter, which would in effect sanction the use of force if Syria failed in its obligations.Moscow has already objected to a draft resolution that would be enforced by Chapter VII of the UN charter, which would in effect sanction the use of force if Syria failed in its obligations.
Russia, supported by China, has blocked three previous draft resolutions condemning the Assad government. Syria conditions
More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Assad began in 2011. Russia announced its proposal for dealing with the escalating chemical weapons crisis on Monday, as the US Congress was preparing to debate whether to back President Barack Obama's moves towards military strikes.
The UN has confirmed it has received documents from Syria on joining the Chemical Weapons Convention, a key step in the Russian plan, but did not immediately say if it had accepted the application.
President Assad said data on chemical weapons would start to be passed to the UN after 30 days.
But Mr Kerry has rejected this, saying such standard procedures are not relevant when chemical weapons have already been used.
Washington and its allies accuse the Syrian government of killing hundreds of people in a chemical attack in the Ghouta area of the capital, Damascus, on 21 August. The government denies the allegation, blaming rebels.
In an interview with Russian TV, President Assad cautioned that Russia's proposal was "not unilateral", adding: "Syria will accept it if America stops military threats and if other countries supplying the rebels with chemical weapons also abide by the agreement."
Syria's envoy to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, later said that "legally speaking", Syria is now a full member of the convention.
Russia, supported by China, has blocked three previous draft UN resolutions condemning the Assad government.
More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Assad began in 2011. Millions of Syrians have been displaced.