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Syria crisis: Kerry urges UN action on chemical weapons Syria crisis: Minister says civil war has reached stalemate
(about 1 hour later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry says the UN Security Council must "be prepared" to agree a binding resolution on Syria's chemical weapons. Syria's deputy prime minister says the civil war has reached stalemate with neither side strong enough to win.
He said a "definitive" UN report had proven that the Syrian government was behind a deadly attack in August. Qadri Jamil told the UK's Guardian newspaper that in proposed peace talks in Geneva, Damascus would call for a ceasefire with international monitors.
Syria has agreed to a chemical weapons disarmament plan unveiled by the US and Russia last weekend. The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says Mr Jamil seems to be reflecting a drive by Russia to prepare for peace talks.
The West wants the deal enshrined in a UN resolution backed by the threat of military force. Meanwhile, the US has called on the UN Security Council to act over Syria's chemical weapons.
However Russia - Syria's ally - objects. Secretary of State John Kerry called on the council to pass a "binding resolution" when it meets next week.
In another development on Thursday, Syria's deputy prime minister told the UK's Guardian newspaper that the civil war had reached a stalemate and the government would call for a ceasefire if long-delayed peace talks in Geneva take place. Mr Jamil told the Guardian that the Syrian economy had suffered catastrophic losses in the civil war that began in early 2011.
"Neither the armed opposition nor the regime is capable of defeating the other side," Qadri Jamil said. More than 100,000 people have died in the conflict, according to the UN, and millions have fled the country or been made homeless.
'World is watching' "Neither the armed opposition nor the regime is capable of defeating the other side," he said.
Hundreds of people died when chemical weapons were fired into the Damascus suburb of Ghouta on 21 August. "This zero balance of forces will not change for a while."
Mr Jamil insisted that he was speaking for the government.
He said that if the long-delayed Geneva peace talks are revived the government would propose a ceasefire monitored by troops from neutral or friendly countries.
This, he said, would pave the way for a peaceful political process free from outside interference.
Nobody should fear, he added, that the regime in its current form would continue.
"For all practical purposes the regime in its previous form has ended. In order to realise our progressive reforms we need the West and all those who are involved in Syria to get off our shoulders," he said.
Our correspondent says his comments are bound to be dismissed by the opposition which is deeply sceptical about talk of reform and democracy from government sources.
Mr Jamil is a former communist whose party took part in demonstrations against the government at the beginning of the uprising. He is not a hard-core Baath Party loyalist, our correspondent adds.
Security Council call
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, is currently in Damascus where he has been meeting top officials and also leaders of the tolerated opposition. Both Russia and the US say they want to build on their agreement concerning chemical weapons to revive the stalled peace process.
Meanwhile, Mr Kerry said a "definitive" UN report had proven that the Syrian government was behind a deadly chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs of Ghouta on 21 August.
Damascus - backed by Moscow - has insisted that rebel forces carried out the attack.Damascus - backed by Moscow - has insisted that rebel forces carried out the attack.
The US threatened military strikes against Syria in response, but put them on hold after agreeing to a Russian plan to destroy Syria's chemical weapons' stockpiles.The US threatened military strikes against Syria in response, but put them on hold after agreeing to a Russian plan to destroy Syria's chemical weapons' stockpiles.
Syria has agreed to the disarmament plan unveiled by the US and Russia last weekend.
The West wants the deal enshrined in a UN resolution backed by the threat of military force but Russia - Syria's ally - objects.
Mr Kerry said the UN Security Council must be willing to act when the UN General Assembly holds its annual meeting in New York next week.Mr Kerry said the UN Security Council must be willing to act when the UN General Assembly holds its annual meeting in New York next week.
"Now the test comes. The Security Council must be prepared to act next week," Mr Kerry said."Now the test comes. The Security Council must be prepared to act next week," Mr Kerry said.
"It is vital for the international community to stand up and speak out in the strongest possible terms about the importance of enforceable action to rid the world of Syria's chemical weapons."It is vital for the international community to stand up and speak out in the strongest possible terms about the importance of enforceable action to rid the world of Syria's chemical weapons.
"We have to recognise the world is watching to see whether we can avert military action and achieve through peaceful means even more than what those military strikes promised.""We have to recognise the world is watching to see whether we can avert military action and achieve through peaceful means even more than what those military strikes promised."
He said the removal of Syria's chemical weapons was possible through peaceful means but the UN had to follow through on the agreement struck in Geneva. First test
Mr Kerry said the removal of Syria's chemical weapons was possible through peaceful means but the UN had to follow through on the agreement struck in Geneva.
"We need everyone's help to see the Security Council lives up to its founding values and passes a binding resolution that codifies the strongest possible mechanism to achieve the goal and to achieve it rapidly.""We need everyone's help to see the Security Council lives up to its founding values and passes a binding resolution that codifies the strongest possible mechanism to achieve the goal and to achieve it rapidly."
Correspondents say the disarmament plan faces its first big test on Saturday with the one-week deadline for Syria to provide a list of its chemical weapons facilities.Correspondents say the disarmament plan faces its first big test on Saturday with the one-week deadline for Syria to provide a list of its chemical weapons facilities.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was "confident" that Syria's chemical weapons could be destroyed under the US-Russian plan, but was not "100% sure".Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was "confident" that Syria's chemical weapons could be destroyed under the US-Russian plan, but was not "100% sure".
He pointed out that Syria had already made steps to join the international Chemical Weapons Convention.He pointed out that Syria had already made steps to join the international Chemical Weapons Convention.
"These are practical steps which the Syrian government has already made," he said."These are practical steps which the Syrian government has already made," he said.
"Whether we will manage to see everything through, I cannot say 100%. But everything that we have seen up to now, in recent days, inspires confidence that this is possible and that it will be done.""Whether we will manage to see everything through, I cannot say 100%. But everything that we have seen up to now, in recent days, inspires confidence that this is possible and that it will be done."
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with Fox News, said it could take about a year to destroy Syria's chemical stockpiles and could cost about $1bn (£623m).Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with Fox News, said it could take about a year to destroy Syria's chemical stockpiles and could cost about $1bn (£623m).
More than 100,000 people have been killed since Syria's civil war began in early 2011, according to the UN.
Millions have fled the country and millions more have been left homeless.