Lavrov: Insurgents Have Chemical Weapons
It's no secret. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed what he said many times before. Russia has clear evidence. It proves Western-enlisted death squads have CWs. It proves they use them.
The Syrian Arab Army seized more than 200 barrels with
chemicals from insurgents at a farm in Banias, Tartus.
On Saturday, Russia's Channel One interviewed Lavrov. He said Moscow intercepted a phone call between two insurgents. They discussed using chemical weapons. Russia informed Washington and other anti-Assad governments. It called on them "to make sure that their 'charges' kept their hands off any chemical weapons or their components, to say nothing of using them." According to Lavrov:
"We are certain that militants have more than once attempted such provocations. Therefore, the direct sponsors of opposition forces who offer them support must also see to it that they give up on further provocations."
Syria must play the lead role in its own security.
"The main idea is to let OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) experts play the first fiddle, while the UN plays a supporting role by providing additional personnel if needed and, first and foremost, by protecting watchdogs that are to inspect Syrian chemical arms depots as listed by the country's government. Of course, we are still to agree on the details of this plan. In this sense, the UN Security Council's resolution will entitle the UN secretary general to come forth with his recommendations during consultations with the OPCW's chief."
Assad and opposition forces are obligated to observe Security Council provisions to eliminate all chemical weapons in Syria. UN member states must not let insurgents with chemical weapons use their territories. Security Council Resolution 2118 "stresses chemical weapons must not fall into the hands of non-governmental entities, which the opposition is," said Lavrov. "It also emphasizes that all UN member states, primarily Syria's neighbors, must take comprehensive measures to prevent the use of their territories for the provision of the opposition with chemical weapons and their components," he added.
