Syria has accepted the proposal put forth by the Russian government offering to take control of all Syria's chemical weapons. The announcement was made on Tuesday. Russia proposed this idea as a way to keep the United States from attacking Syria in the wake of a chemical onslaught on Syrian civilians, allegedly ordered by the President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad. The Associated Press has reported the Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moallem met with the speaker for the Russian Parliament and agreed to turn over control of Syria's chemical weapons in order to "derail the U.S aggression."
Despite Syria's agreement with Russia, the Syrian Civil War is still in full swing. The Syrian government is using traditional military grade weapons on civilians and rebels that oppose the regime. Officials from Washington are still skeptical about the deal struck between Syria and Russia. The White House feels both countries could cause a delay in the chemical weapons surrender. CNN reports while unsure of Russia and Syria's deal the White House has backed down from its urgent call for Congress to vote on whether or not the U.S should use force against Syria.
"We held a very fruitful round of talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday, and he proposed an initiative relating to chemical weapons. And in the evening we agreed to the Russian initiative," Reuters reports Moallem as saying to the speaker of Russia's lower house parliament in Moscow. Syria agreed in order to "remove the grounds of American aggression." The announcement came on the same day France announced it would propose a solution to the United Nations Security Council that would force Syria to take its' chemical weapons program apart.
The Times of India is reporting that "On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Assad could resolve the crisis by ceding control of his chemical arsenal to the international community. Lavrov responded by promising to push Syria to place the weapons under international control and then dismantle them quickly, to avert U.S. strikes. China too expressed support for the plan." President Obama spoke on Monday saying he believed the Russian plan would be "a significant breakthrough" but then reasserted the belief Syria may not follow through.
President Obama will address the American people Tuesday night and speak about what if any involvement the United States will have in the conflict in Syria. The United Kingdom and France will also be working with the U.S in regards to examining Syria's agreement with Russia. The Arab League is supporting Syria's deal with Russia.
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