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Russia accused West of exploiting deal to threaten Assad
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Russia has accused the West yesterday of trying to exploit a chemical weapons deal with Syria to push through a UN resolution threatening force against President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad’s government has handed over information about its chemical arsenal to a UN-backed weapons watchdog, meeting the first deadline of the ambitious US-Russia accord which the UN Security Council is due to endorse in the coming days.
But major powers on the council remain divided over how to ensure compliance with the accord.
The United States, France and Britain want a council resolution issued under Chapter 7 of the UN charter, which could authorise sanctions or military intervention if Damascus reneges on its commitments.
Russia opposes Western threats of force against an ally which Moscow has continued to arm and support during the civil war.
“They see in the US-Russian deal not a chance to save the planet from significant quantities of chemical weapons in Syria, but as a chance to do what Russia and China will not allow, namely to push through a resolution involving (the threat of) force against the regime and shielding the opposition,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday.
Lavrov also said Russia was ready to send troops to Syria to ensure the safety of UN chemical weapons inspectors.
“An international presence is needed on the perimeters of the areas where the experts will work,” he said. “We are willing to send our troops and military police to participate.
“I do not think that there is a need for a major contingent. I think military observers will be sufficient.”
Assad agreed to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons after a sarin gas strike in Damascus suburbs last month.
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