This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24088550
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Hague to hold Syria talks with US and France | Hague to hold Syria talks with US and France |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Foreign Secretary William Hague is to hold fresh talks with his American and French counterparts on Monday to discuss Syria. | Foreign Secretary William Hague is to hold fresh talks with his American and French counterparts on Monday to discuss Syria. |
Mr Hague will travel to Paris to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry and French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, the Foreign Office said. | Mr Hague will travel to Paris to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry and French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, the Foreign Office said. |
Mr Kerry has spent two days in Geneva in talks with Russia's foreign minister on securing Syria's chemical weapons. | Mr Kerry has spent two days in Geneva in talks with Russia's foreign minister on securing Syria's chemical weapons. |
The secretary of state described the talks as "constructive". | The secretary of state described the talks as "constructive". |
He and Sergei Lavrov discussed a Russian proposal for Syria's President Bashar Assad to give up his chemical weapons for destruction by the international community. | He and Sergei Lavrov discussed a Russian proposal for Syria's President Bashar Assad to give up his chemical weapons for destruction by the international community. |
Meanwhile, a UN report expected next week will "overwhelmingly" confirm that chemical weapons were used in Syria last month. | |
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made no comment on who was to blame for the 21 August attack in the Ghouta area of Damascus, as that is not part of the report's remit. | |
But he did say Syria's president was guilty of "crimes against humanity". | |
Earlier this week, Prime Minister David Cameron said the Russian plan - apparently welcomed by Syria - was an idea "definitely worth exploring" but added that he entered the process with a "hard head and cool calculations". | Earlier this week, Prime Minister David Cameron said the Russian plan - apparently welcomed by Syria - was an idea "definitely worth exploring" but added that he entered the process with a "hard head and cool calculations". |
Mr Cameron, who spoke to US President Obama and France's President Hollande on Tuesday, said he wanted to ensure that this was not just a way "to simply buy time" for Mr Assad. | Mr Cameron, who spoke to US President Obama and France's President Hollande on Tuesday, said he wanted to ensure that this was not just a way "to simply buy time" for Mr Assad. |
'Deeply committed' | 'Deeply committed' |
Mr Kerry is expected to remain in Geneva for further talks before meeting Mr Hague on Monday. | Mr Kerry is expected to remain in Geneva for further talks before meeting Mr Hague on Monday. |
He said: "I will say on behalf of the United States that President (Barack) Obama is deeply committed to a negotiated solution with respect to Syria, and we know that Russia is likewise. We are working hard to find the common ground to be able to make that happen. | He said: "I will say on behalf of the United States that President (Barack) Obama is deeply committed to a negotiated solution with respect to Syria, and we know that Russia is likewise. We are working hard to find the common ground to be able to make that happen. |
"We are committed to try to work together, beginning with this initiative on the chemical weapons, in hopes that those efforts could pay off and bring peace and stability to a war-torn part of the world." | "We are committed to try to work together, beginning with this initiative on the chemical weapons, in hopes that those efforts could pay off and bring peace and stability to a war-torn part of the world." |
He said that he and Mr Lavrov would meet again in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the end of this month. | He said that he and Mr Lavrov would meet again in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the end of this month. |
On Friday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said a UN report due out next week on the incident would be "an overwhelming report that chemical weapons were used". | On Friday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said a UN report due out next week on the incident would be "an overwhelming report that chemical weapons were used". |
The remit of the report is not to apportion blame and Mr Ban made no comment on that issue. | The remit of the report is not to apportion blame and Mr Ban made no comment on that issue. |
But he did say that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had "carried out many crimes against humanity". | But he did say that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had "carried out many crimes against humanity". |
More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Assad began in 2011. Millions of Syrians have been displaced. |
Previous version
1
Next version