General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBREAKING: Syria ready to join Chemical Convtn/Putin: Chem handover works only if US calls off strike
BREAKING: #Syria ready to join Chemical Weapons Convention - FM http://on.rt.com/0yh5ju
URGENT: We are ready to sign Chemical Weapons Convention - Syrian FM http://on.rt.com/co6hii
Published on Sep 10, 2013
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Syria's chemical arms handover will only work if the US and its allies renounce the use of force against Damascus - READ MORE http://on.rt.com/2cbbe5
Published time: September 10, 2013 17:00
Speaking exclusively to RT, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Syrias chemical arms handover will only work if the US and its allies renounce the use of force against Damascus.
"Certainly, this is all reasonable, it will function and will work out, only if the US and those who support it on this issue pledge to renounce the use of force, because it is difficult to make any country Syria or any other country in the world to unilaterally disarm if there is military action against it under consideration," President Putin told exclusively to RT on Tuesday.
Putin said the disarmament of Syrias chemical weapons had been extensively discussed by experts and politicians.
The Russian president said that he and President Barack Obama had indeed discussed such a possibility on the sidelines of the G20 summit in St. Petersburg last week.
It was agreed, Putin said, to instruct Secretary of State (John Kerry) and Foreign Minister (Sergey Lavrov) to get in touch and try to move this idea forward.
...
Despite voicing some serious skepticism, Western countries supported the move, stressing the importance of Assad fulfilling the agreement and surrendering the weapons stockpiles.
...
In response to Russias proposal, Obama said he was willing to absolutely put on pause a military strike on Syria if Assad accepts the offer.
...
http://rt.com/news/putin-syria-chemical-weapons-669/
The hawks are having a fit over the "absolutely" part right now. Stand firm Mr President.
UPDATE:
MORE: Syria pledged to open its storage sites & provide full disclosure of its stocks immediately http://on.rt.com/co6hii
David__77
(23,418 posts)Will it be grasped?
Russia is being clear that Chapter 7 and military ultimatums are not going to be acceptable.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)Obama concedes nothing in that language.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)Here's the sequence
15:32 GMT: With regards to the size of a US strike on Syria, Sec. Kerry told lawmakers in the House that the White House wants a limited strike that would pale in comparison to other recent military operations. "It's not Iraq, its not Iran, its not a years war, he said.
I have said that this will be meaningful, it will be serious, the Assad regime will feel it, Kerry said, but compared to Iraq, Kosovo, Libyaits small. It is not any of those things.
16:45 GMT: Moscow will propose a draft statement by the chairman of the UN Security Council, supporting the initiative to transfer Syrias chemical weapons to international control, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The issue was discussed during a phone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius.
(Lavrov) said that Russia, on its part, is submitting a draft statement for the UN Security Councils chairman, welcoming the initiative and calling on the UN Secretary General, the general director of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and all the interested parties to make efforts to facilitate the implementation of this proposal, the ministrys statement said.
During the call, Lavrov said described as unacceptable a French proposal to adopt a Security Council resolution blaming President Assads government for the chemical weapons attack.
17:00 GMT: Putin to RT: Syria chem arms handover will work only if US calls off strike
17:15 GMT: Moscow has called an emergency closed-door meeting at the UN Security Council to discuss its chemical weapon removal plan. The round-table will begin at 8 p.m. GMT.
17:20 GMT: Barack Obama and Francois Hollande have refused to rule out the possibility of a military strike against Syria, following a telephone conversation.
"The heads of state highlighted their preference for a diplomatic solution but they also underlined the importance of keeping all options open," said a statement from Hollande's press office.
All items, (except 'Putin to RT:Syria chem arms handover will work only if US calls off strike' which is under Breaking News) here http://rt.com/news/syria-crisis-live-updates-047/
RT ?@RT_com 43m
MORE: Putin calls for diplomatic push to put Syrian chemical weapons beyond use http://on.rt.com/2cbbe5
RT ?@RT_com 31m
DETAILS: Hope Syria destroys chemical arms and joins intl treaty Putin speaking to RT http://on.rt.com/2cbbe5
RT ?@RT_com 26m
Putin: #Syria chemical arms handover will work only if US calls off strike (Youtube video in OP)
RT ?@RT_com 12m
BREAKING: #Syria ready to join Chemical Weapons Convention - FM http://on.rt.com/0yh5ju
RT ?@RT_com 8m
URGENT: We are ready to sign Chemical Weapons Convention - Syrian FM http://on.rt.com/co6hii
RT ?@RT_com 2m
DETAILS: Syria will sign up to Chemical Weapons Convention, following Russias proposal http://on.rt.com/co6hii
https://twitter.com/RT_com
Autumn
(45,094 posts)Hopefully this will pull out their tail feathers and clip their wings.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)My main concern is that our Presidents are captive of the MIC who manage a system non-independently and Obama is bucking against 14 years of preparation for a Syria attack.
This was never about chemical weapons.
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)It appears an attack has been planned for years. I believe there are many stakeholders who are invested in the US attacking Syria whether they have chemical weapons or not.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)Syrian FM: We are ready to sign Chemical Weapons Convention
Published time: September 10, 2013 17:36
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem (Reuters / Amr Dalsh)
Syria said it would sign the Chemical Weapons Convention, following Russias proposal that it hands over its chemical weapons to international supervisors. Damascus pledged to open its storage sites and provide full disclosure of its stocks immediately.
We fully support Russias initiative concerning chemical weapons in Syria, and we are ready to cooperate. As a part of the plan, we intend to join the Chemical Weapons Convention, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said in an interview with Lebanon-based Al-Maydeen TV.
We are ready to fulfill our obligations in compliance with this treaty, including through the provision of information about our chemical weapons. We will open our storage sites, and cease production. We are ready to open these facilities to Russia, other countries and the United Nations.
He added: We intend to give up chemical weapons altogether.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW
http://rt.com/news/syria-join-chemical-weapons-convention-675/
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)bigtree
(85,996 posts). . . that SHOULD mean no congressional resolution giving him permission to strike.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)We should also be forced to stop funding violating international law and arming rebels all over the Middle East.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)Obama spoke to his French and British counterparts on Tuesday morning | AP Photo
By JENNIFER EPSTEIN and MANU RAJU | 9/10/13 11:06 AM EDT Updated: 9/10/13 2:58 PM EDT
President Barack Obama said Tuesday he wants Congress to delay its efforts to vote on authorizing the use of force in response to Syrias use of chemical weapons until the round of diplomatic efforts that began this week has a chance to play out.
Obamas comments came at lunch meetings with senators, which followed the administrations commitment to engage in talks at the United Nations, and as Syria and Russia quickly responded to the action at the UN with their own statements and requests.
Were going to continue to work moving forward on this but keeping pronounced and I pronounce it now that the credible threat of our doing something about this attack is going to remain, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) said after the presidents 75-minute meeting with Senate Democrats. Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) added that a Senate vote on the use of force would be delayed until next week, at the earliest.
Efforts to reach an agreement at the UN began Tuesday, as France proposed a Security Council resolution that Russia quickly dismissed as unacceptable, before Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Obama to renounce the use of force.
Certainly, this is all reasonable, it will function and will work out, only if the U.S. and those who support it on this issue pledge to renounce the use of force, because it is difficult to make any country Syria or any other country in the world to unilaterally disarm if there is military action against it under consideration, Putin said Tuesday, according to Russia Today.
....
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/obama-syria-chemical-weapons-proposal-96547.html
STFU Reid. You're one of the problems.
And you too Kerry. STFU for a while.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)19:03 GMT: UN Security Council closed-door meeting called by Russia has been postponed, according to the Council's current president Australia's Ambassador to the UN, Gary Quinlan, ITAR-TASS reports.
Gary Quinlan ?@AustraliaUN (UN Security Council for 2013-14)
Following withdrawal of the request for consultations, Security Council meeting scheduled for 4pm will not proceed #OzPrez #UNSC
https://twitter.com/AustraliaUN/statuses/377501618620862464
Tuesday, September 10
19:03 GMT: UN Security Council closed-door meeting called by Russia has been postponed, according to the Council's current president Australia's Ambassador to the UN, Gary Quinlan, ITAR-TASS reports.
18:45 GMT: President Obama has reportedly called on the US Senate to postpone the vote on possible military actions in Syria until the diplomatic solution is discussed, according Politico newspaper which cited a source from the closed-door meeting.
18:43 GMT: John Kerry said that any Syria weapons deal must be struck in a binding UN Security Council resolution.
17:20 GMT: Barack Obama and Francois Hollande have refused to rule out the possibility of a military strike against Syria, following a telephone conversation.
"The heads of state highlighted their preference for a diplomatic solution but they also underlined the importance of keeping all options open," said a statement from Hollande's press office.
17:15 GMT: Moscow has called an emergency closed-door consultations at the UN Security Council to discuss its chemical weapon removal plan. The round-table is expected to begin at 8 pm GMT Tuesday.
16:45 GMT: Moscow will propose a draft statement by the chairman of the UN Security Council, supporting the initiative to transfer Syrias chemical weapons to international control, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The issue was discussed during a phone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius.
[Lavrov] said that Russia, on its part, is submitting a draft statement for the UN Security Councils chairman, welcoming the initiative and calling on the UN Secretary General, the general director of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and all the interested parties to make efforts to facilitate the implementation of this proposal, the ministrys statement said.
During the call, Lavrov said described as unacceptable a French proposal to adopt a Security Council resolution blaming President Assads government for the chemical weapons attack.
http://rt.com/news/syria-crisis-live-updates-047/
???