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U.S. and Allies Push for Strong U.N. Measure on Syria’s Arms U.S. and Allies Push for Strong U.N. Measure on Syria’s Arms
(about 2 hours later)
PARIS — Secretary of State John Kerry and the foreign ministers of France and Britain said on Monday that they would not tolerate delays in dismantling Syria’s chemical weapons and would press ahead with a strong resolution in the United Nations Security Council to enforce the disarmament plan.PARIS — Secretary of State John Kerry and the foreign ministers of France and Britain said on Monday that they would not tolerate delays in dismantling Syria’s chemical weapons and would press ahead with a strong resolution in the United Nations Security Council to enforce the disarmament plan.
“It is extremely important that there are no evasions,” William Hague, the British foreign secretary, said at a joint news conference.“It is extremely important that there are no evasions,” William Hague, the British foreign secretary, said at a joint news conference.
Referring to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Mr. Kerry said, “If Assad fails in time to abide by the terms of this framework, make no mistake, we are all agreed — and that includes Russia — that there will be consequences.”Referring to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Mr. Kerry said, “If Assad fails in time to abide by the terms of this framework, make no mistake, we are all agreed — and that includes Russia — that there will be consequences.”
A major question, however, is whether the United States and its allies are pursuing the short-term goal of dismantling Syria’s chemical arsenal at the expense of the ultimate objective of pressing Mr. Assad to relinquish power. A major question, however, is whether the United States and its allies are pursuing the short-term goal of dismantling Syria’s chemical arsenal at the expense of their ultimate objective of pressing Mr. Assad to relinquish power.
The schedule for eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons is ambitious: all of them are to be eliminated by the middle of 2014. And experts say that meeting such a schedule will depend heavily on the cooperation of the Assad government.The schedule for eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons is ambitious: all of them are to be eliminated by the middle of 2014. And experts say that meeting such a schedule will depend heavily on the cooperation of the Assad government.
Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, insisted that there was no contradiction between the disarmament goal and the longer-term diplomatic objective, because removing Mr. Assad’s chemical arsenal would weaken his military position and would eventually smooth the way for his ouster. Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, insisted that there was no contradiction between the disarmament goal and the longer-term diplomatic objective, because removing Mr. Assad’s chemical arsenal would undermine his military position and would eventually smooth the way for his ouster.
“It will be a weakening of his position,” Mr. Fabius said. “He must understand that there is no military victory.”“It will be a weakening of his position,” Mr. Fabius said. “He must understand that there is no military victory.”
Mr. Kerry made a similar point. “We are taking a weapon away from him that he has been using against his people,” he said, while acknowledging that the Syrian military had also used conventional artillery and airstrikes indiscriminately against the population.Mr. Kerry made a similar point. “We are taking a weapon away from him that he has been using against his people,” he said, while acknowledging that the Syrian military had also used conventional artillery and airstrikes indiscriminately against the population.
Mr. Fabius emphasized the importance of increasing support for the Syrian opposition, much of which has expressed a sense of betrayal over the United States’ decision to put off a military strike.Mr. Fabius emphasized the importance of increasing support for the Syrian opposition, much of which has expressed a sense of betrayal over the United States’ decision to put off a military strike.
“In order to negotiate a political solution, we need a stronger position,” Mr. Fabius said. “We therefore intend to strengthen our support to Syrian national coalition rebels. If you want to change the Assad regime without falling in the hands of the terrorists, you have to support the moderate opposition.”“In order to negotiate a political solution, we need a stronger position,” Mr. Fabius said. “We therefore intend to strengthen our support to Syrian national coalition rebels. If you want to change the Assad regime without falling in the hands of the terrorists, you have to support the moderate opposition.”
Mr. Fabius remarked that much of the public appeared to think that the choice in Syria was between Mr. Assad’s government and Islamic militants, but he said that was false.Mr. Fabius remarked that much of the public appeared to think that the choice in Syria was between Mr. Assad’s government and Islamic militants, but he said that was false.
To help the Syrian opposition, Mr. Fabius said, they would be invited to an international meeting in New York that would be convened on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, whose formal session opens next week and is scheduled to continue into early October. Mr. Fabius said the Syrian opposition would be invited to an international meeting in New York that would be convened on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, whose formal session opens next week and is scheduled to continue into early October.
The framework plan was worked out by the United States and Russia on Saturday but now needs to be incorporated into a Security Council resolution. The framework plan on quarantining and destroying Syria’s chemical arsenal was worked out by the United States and Russia on Saturday but now needs to be incorporated into a Security Council resolution.
Under the framework agreement, the terms of the accord are to be included in a resolution under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, which would authorize punitive measures if Syria does not comply. While Russia would almost certainly veto any Security Council endorsement of a military strike, Mr. Kerry has said the United States remains prepared to launch a unilateral strike if Syria fails to meet its commitments. Under the framework agreement, the terms of the accord are to be included in a resolution under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, which would authorize punitive measures if Syria does not comply. While Russia would almost certainly veto any Security Council endorsement of a military strike, other measures could include disrupting Syria’s means of communications as well as imposing economic sanctions.
In addition, Mr. Kerry has said the United States remains prepared to launch a unilateral strike if Syria fails to meet its commitments.
Mr. Kerry said that every representation of compliance by the Syrian government would be verified. “Nothing can be accepted at face value or in words alone,” he said.
Mr. Hague added that Britain, France and the United States were intent on preventing Syria from engaging in a “cat-and-mouse game.”
“The pressure is on them to comply with this agreement in full,” he said. “The world must be prepared to hold them to account if they don’t, and our three countries are certainly determined to do so.”