Syria: Assad-regime apparently willing to surrender & destroy chemical weapons

[Tender Branson]

Syrian Minister Says Syria Welcomes New Plan

MOSCOW — Syria’s foreign minister says his country welcomes Russia’s proposal for it to place its chemical weapons under international control and then dismantle them quickly to avert United States strikes.

The statement from the minister, Walid al-Moallem, came a few hours after Secretary of State John Kerry said President Bashar al-Assad could resolve the crisis surrounding the alleged use of chemical weapons by his forces by surrendering control of “every single bit” of his arsenal to the international community by the end of the week. Mr. Kerry did not appear to be searching for a political solution when he made the comment, as he immediately dismissed the idea that Mr. Assad would comply.

http://projects.nytimes.com/live-dashboard/syria#sha=c37adc3d8

[Tender Branson]

U.S. and Russia Reach Deal to Secure Syria’s Chemical Arms



GENEVA — The United States and Russia have reached an agreement that calls for Syria’s arsenal of chemical weapons to be removed or destroyed by the middle of 2014, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday.

Under a “framework” agreement, international inspectors must be on the ground in Syria by November, Mr. Kerry said, speaking at a news conference with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey V. Lavrov.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/world/middleeast/syria-talks.html

Excellent.