MILITARY OPTION STILL ON TABLE: NATO CHIEF

        Brussels, 14 Dhul Qai’da 1434/20 September 2013 (MINA) – The NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh said military option regarding Syria’s chemical weapons “will be on the table irrespective of the deliberation at the UN Security Council”.

       As the Western powers try to add military option to UN Security Council resolution regarding Russian-US deal on the Syrian chemical stockpile, the secretary general of the NATO said the military option should be on the table.

       Anders Rasmussen welcomed a Russian-US agreement on stripping the Syrian regime of its chemical stockpile, but added it was essential for keeping momentum in the diplomatic and political process that the military option remained on the table. “Irrespective of the deliberation at the UN Security Council, the military option will be on the table,” he said at an event organized by the Carnegie Europe think-tank.

       The chief of military alliance also voiced support for Turkey’s shooting down of a Syrian helicopter that crossed into Turkish airspace on Monday. Rasmussen said Turkey informed the military alliance, and added “There is no reason for suspicion over the information that we received from Turkey.”

       The Western members of the UN Security Council want to add a military clause to a chemical deal to keep pressure over Assad regime. Russia opposes such a clause. Anadolu Agency reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

       Two days ago (18 September) Rasmussen was in British capital London, held talks  with the British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday after having met with British Foreign Secretary Willaim Hague earlier on Wednesday morning.

        Rasmussen said the framework agreement between US and Russia had to be swift and verifiable implementation.

        Following his meeting with Cameron, NATO secretary general released a message from his official twitter account saying that they covered the topics of NATO Summit 2014, Syria issue and Afghanistan.

        Rasmussen added that they also covered the use of chemical weapons in Syria and wrote down, “We agreed that there must be a swift, verifiable implementation of US-Russia framework, with expeditious UN Security Council Resolution.”

        Moreover, touching onto the topic of Afghanistan, Rasmussen noted, “Afghanistan forces we trained are now keeping their country secure. We are planning new non-combat mission, to train, advise and assist. I look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Cameron to prepare NATO Summit 2014 to face the future challenges.”

           Earlier on Wednesday, Rasmussen came together with the British Foreign Secretary. On September, 14, Hague came together with U.S Secretary of State John Kerry and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in the French capital, Paris.

         Monday’s meeting coincides the release of findings of a UN inspection team that probed an alleged poison gas attack on August 21 near the Syrian capital.

         Hague also discussed with his counterparts a Russian proposal to place Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile under international control.

        The meeting of the foreign ministers is set for the same day when a UN inspection team is expected to make public its findings whether chemical weapons were used in an August 21 attack that killed hundreds of people near Damascus.

          Cameron and his coalition government failed to pass a motion and  lost a vital parliamentary vote endorsing military action against Syria. Motion was defeated by 285 to 272 votes, ruling out London’s involvement in any US-led strikes against Damascus.

          Thursday evening’s vote was nonbinding, but in practice the rejection of military strikes means Cameron’s hands are tied.

          The British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said that Britain would not take part in any military action.”I hoped we would carry the argument but we understand there is a deep well of suspicion about involvement in the Middle East,” Hammond told.

          On Saturday (14/9) US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced they agreed on a roadmap to destroy Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons by mid-2014 in Geneva.

          Speaking to journalists following their 3-day meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the two ministers announced they finally agreed on a 6-point framework.

         Because Syria has received the Russian proposal, Kerry told that President Bashar al-Assad’s must allow international inspections in Syria by November with the goal of eliminating stockpiles chemical weapons, Aljazeera reports.

          Kerry said the Syrian regime would have one week to submit details on providing experts from Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) with “immediate and unfettered” access to its chemical weapons program.

          Kerry and Lavrov said Syria must comply with the agreed deal and that any failure would result in a Security Council resolution.

          Lavrov said their decision was based upon “consensus and compromise”, pointing out that the deal contained nothing about the potential use of force if Syria fails to comply.(T/P04/P03)

 

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)