Russia has strong grounds to believe Syria chemical attack was provocation – Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had strong grounds to believe that an August 21 chemical attack in Syria was staged by opponents of the Syrian government, according to Voice of Russia.

“We have every reason to believe that this is a provocation – “deliberate and smart”, but at the same time, a primitive technique. They took an old Soviet-made missile and launched it from the territory controlled by the Syrian army”, said Russian President during a meeting with the members of the international discussion club “Valdai”.

“The main thing is that it said ‘Made in the USSR.’ And that wasn’t the first time chemical weapons were used in Syria. Why didn’t they investigate the previous incidents?” Putin said.

Putin said the incident should be thoroughly investigated.

“If we eventually, no matter how hard it will be, can get an answer to the question as to who did that, who committed that crime, and that is, no doubt, a crime, the next step will be taken, when we and our colleagues in the UN Security Council will determine the degree of responsibility of those who committed that crime,” Putin said.

The use of force against Syria must not be discussed in the US Congress. Instead, it must be a topic for discussion in the UN Security Council, said Putin.

Russian President said he regrets that the American Parliamentarians refused to continue a bilateral dialogue on Syria, highlighting that such discussions are very important.

Putin has expressed surprise about the statements made by some political scientists that the initiative to put Syrian chemical weapons under control helped US President Barack Obama “save his face.”

“I don’t think this initiative to put Syrian chemical weapons under control helped President Obama save face, like you said,” said Putin responding to a question from a US political scientist.

“It’s not about anyone’s face or about saving anyone,” Putin said. “It was his [Obama’s] decision based on a real analysis of the situation. I’m very happy that we see eye to eye on this matter,” Putin said.

Latest developments suggest Syria is willing to give up all chemical arms, said Putin.

I can’t be 100% sure that it will be possible to being everything to completion, but all that we have seen over the past few days instills confidence that it will be done,” Putin said when asked whether the Syrian government could be expected to give up all of Syria’s chemical arsenal. 

“At this point the situation is that Syria has accepted our proposal and is prepared to follow the plan that the international community is drawing up on the UN floor,” he said.

Moreover, “Syria has announced that it is willing to join, and not just willing but already considers itself a signatory to the international convention on the nonproliferation of chemical weapons,” Putin said.

Russian President said the parties to the crisis   in Syria should be made to begin dialogue

“No matter how difficult it is, we should make them, find points of contact, make them reach agreements, find this balance of interests. Then the situation in the country can be stable for some time and maybe even improve,” Putin said.

M.D