Russia Rejects Clauses on Use of Force in UN Resolution on Syria

Russia rejects any clauses on use of force in UN resolution on Syria.

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Russia said Tuesday that a UN Security Council resolution on Syria's chemical weapons would not contain any references to the use of force.

Instead of discussing Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which allows the use of force, the top task is to fulfill a plan for the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons, says the Russian Foreign Minister.

Sergei Lavrov met with his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius.

Lavrov is insisting on "an unbiased and impartial and professional" investigation into the alleged chemical weapons attack outside Damascus on August 21.

[Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia]:
"We have much evidence to prove that this is a provocation. But some of our colleagues still insist that only the Syrian government can use those chemical weapons. But only after confirmation can we call it a truth."

A draft decision by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Executive Council, will be prepared soon.

It will stipulate the procedure, methods, and dates for the disposal of chemical weapons in Syria

Russia and France also agreed that the second Geneva conference must be convened as soon as possible, and Moscow says it will be imminently announcing the date.

The only obstacle is the Syrian opposition has not agreed to participate so far.

Fabius says the Russia-U.S. agreement on placing Syrian chemical weapons under international control is an "important breakthrough" but warns the process of implementation will not be easy.

Lavrov met U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Geneva on Thursday for three-day talks.

According to the agreement reached in Geneva, Syria must submit a "comprehensive listing" of its chemical weapons stockpiles in one week.

Also international inspectors must be on the ground in Syria by November and destruction or removal of the chemical weapons must be completed by mid-2014.