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| Syria weapons agreement a 'significant step' - Hague | Syria weapons agreement a 'significant step' - Hague |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague has welcomed a US-Russian agreement to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons as a "significant step forward". | Foreign Secretary William Hague has welcomed a US-Russian agreement to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons as a "significant step forward". |
| He spoke to US Secretary of State John Kerry after a framework was outlined. | He spoke to US Secretary of State John Kerry after a framework was outlined. |
| Mr Hague said there now must be "full and prompt implementation... to ensure the transfer of Syria's chemical weapons to international control". | Mr Hague said there now must be "full and prompt implementation... to ensure the transfer of Syria's chemical weapons to international control". |
| He is due to travel to Paris on Monday to discuss the issue with Mr Kerry and the French foreign minister. | He is due to travel to Paris on Monday to discuss the issue with Mr Kerry and the French foreign minister. |
| Under the agreement, Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week and destroy or remove its chemical weapons by mid-2014. | Under the agreement, Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week and destroy or remove its chemical weapons by mid-2014. |
| If Syria fails to comply, the deal could be enforced by a UN resolution backed by the threat of sanctions or military force. | If Syria fails to comply, the deal could be enforced by a UN resolution backed by the threat of sanctions or military force. |
| Mr Hague has been pushing for an international response to a chemical attack in Damascus last month which the UK and the US blamed on the Syrian government. President Bashar al-Assad's regime has accused rebels of carrying out the attack. | Mr Hague has been pushing for an international response to a chemical attack in Damascus last month which the UK and the US blamed on the Syrian government. President Bashar al-Assad's regime has accused rebels of carrying out the attack. |
| The possibility of Syria handing over its chemical weapons was publicly raised for the first time by Mr Kerry at a press conference with Mr Hague in London last week. | The possibility of Syria handing over its chemical weapons was publicly raised for the first time by Mr Kerry at a press conference with Mr Hague in London last week. |
| Political solution | Political solution |
| In a statement, the foreign secretary said his discussions with Mr Kerry and Laurent Fabius on Monday would cover "the way forward, including action at the United Nations Security Council". | In a statement, the foreign secretary said his discussions with Mr Kerry and Laurent Fabius on Monday would cover "the way forward, including action at the United Nations Security Council". |
| He added: "The onus is now on the Assad regime to comply with this agreement in full. The international community, including Russia, must hold the regime to account. | He added: "The onus is now on the Assad regime to comply with this agreement in full. The international community, including Russia, must hold the regime to account. |
| "This includes doing everything we can to stop the continuing bloodshed in Syria, bringing all sides together to agree a political solution to the conflict." | "This includes doing everything we can to stop the continuing bloodshed in Syria, bringing all sides together to agree a political solution to the conflict." |
| Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said the removal of Syria's chemical weapons would "represent a dramatic step forward". | Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said the removal of Syria's chemical weapons would "represent a dramatic step forward". |
| He added: "While this offer deserves a cautious welcome, the international community must work to establish whether this latest proposal is a serious initiative. | He added: "While this offer deserves a cautious welcome, the international community must work to establish whether this latest proposal is a serious initiative. |
| "Primary responsibility now lies with Assad who must take clear and verifiable steps to show that he is serious about handing over chemical weapons." | "Primary responsibility now lies with Assad who must take clear and verifiable steps to show that he is serious about handing over chemical weapons." |
| More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Assad began in 2011. Millions of Syrians have been displaced. | More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising against President Assad began in 2011. Millions of Syrians have been displaced. |
| In a joint news conference in Geneva with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry called on the Assad government to live up to its public commitments. | In a joint news conference in Geneva with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry called on the Assad government to live up to its public commitments. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he would welcome moves by the Russians and Americans in tandem to put chemical weapons "beyond the use of the [Assad] regime". And he called for an "exacting, verifiable timetable which won't slip, which won't allow Assad to somehow escape from his obligations". | |
| He added: "If the talks between the Russians and the Americans in Geneva lead to that outcome I think everybody will be very relieved at the good work that has clearly been achieved between the American and Russian governments." |