WASHINGTON
In the wake of the UN report on the 21 August chemical attack on a Damascus suburb, the US blames Syrian president Bashar Al Assad for the attack in which over 1,000 civilians were killed.
The White House Spokesperson Jay Carney said the UN report confirms the use of chemical gas in Syria, and pointed the report does not determine who gassed people. "There is very little doubt in our mind that the Syrian regime is culpable," said he, adding it is undeniable that chemical weapons were used in a “clear violation of an international norm.”
He stated the findings such as the use of surface-to-surface rocket containing the nerve agent sarin reveals the Assad regime's responsibility regarding the attack. The UN expert team, headed by Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom, submitted its report on Sunday to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and the report became available on Monday. The report concluded that chemical weapons were used on a relatively large scale in the Ghouta area of Damascus.
US Spokesperson Carney noted the US military threat forced Russia to sit around the negotiation table to solve the Syrian chemical weapons issue and Assad to accept the existence of a chemical stockpile. Spokesperson said Washington's position regarding the Syrian opposition did not change and they will increase their aid to the opposition, but also noted US commitment to find political solution to the 30 month old conflict.
Carney emphasized if the agreement that Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov agreed in Geneva last week is implemented, Assad will not be able to deploy chemical weapons again and will be an important gain for Syrian people, allies such as Turkey and Israel, and the world.
On the question whether UN resolution regarding Syria includes military forces, he replied they work with Britain, France and the UN Security Council's members in general to search for a resolution regarding the chapter seven, also stated they want the resolution to include the best possible strong measure. He noted US military threat is still on the table.
Meanwhile, the US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said US and Russia agreed the chapter seven should be a part of UN resolution regarding Syria and noted the negotiations are still continuing in New York.
France, Britain and US push the Chapter Seven resolution, which allows use of “all necessary means”, while Russia would rather see a Chapter Six resolution, which does not include the threat of military power over Syria. The US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Paris on Monday that military intervention could be an option if diplomacy fails. "The framework fully commits the United States and Russia to impose measures under Chapter 7 of the UN charter in the event of non-compliance," he said. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov contradicted Kerry's statement and said the agreement makes no mention of the Chapter Seven.
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