Lavrov Urges Caution Over Repeating “Iraqi scenario”

Any reports of the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict must be carefully investigated to avoid the repetition of the “Iraqi scenario,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

“We believe that any concrete reports that chemical weapons were used or that there are serious concrete suspicions that there was such use should be immediately investigated by experts on the spot,” Lavrov said at a news conference after a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels,according to RIA Novosti.

He said Syria should not face the repetition of the so-called “Iraqi scenario” .

 “The Syrian government has confirmed its readiness to receive experts investigating a particular incident and readiness to receive experts in any place in Syria if there is specific information that chemical weapons could have been used there,” Lavrov said.

The Russian minister described the delays in sending a UN mission to investigate the reports of the use of chemical weapons in Syria as “an attempt to politicize the issue” and force the “Iraqi scenario” on Syria.

M.D