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September 16, 2013

U.S., Russia Reach Deal to Destroy Syria's Chemical Weapons 
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The results of a United Nations report on the alleged chemical attack in
Syria last month are set for release today, two days after the United
States and Russia announced a diplomatic breakthrough that averts, for
now, the potential for U.S. strikes. On Saturday, Secretary of State
John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said they had
reached a deal to destroy or remove Syria's chemical weapons by the
middle of next year. The deal calls for President Bashar al-Assad's
regime to provide a complete list of its chemical weapons resources
within a week. An inspection of all chemical weapons sites and
destruction of equipment for making the weapons would then be completed
by November. During a visit to Israel on Sunday, Kerry reiterated the
threat of U.S. strikes if the deal fails.

John Kerry: "Now, this will only be as effective as its implementation
will be, and President Obama has made it clear that to accomplish that,
the threat of force remains. The threat of force is real, and the Assad
regime and all those taking part need to understand that President Obama
and the United States are committed to achieve this goal."

 

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