Syria Turns In Its Initial Chemical Weapons Declaration

September 22, 2013 • 1:56PM

The Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons confirmed, yesterday, that it has received Syria's initial declaration of its chemical weapons stockpile. OPCW spokesman Michael Luhan told the Associated Press that the declaration is "being reviewed by our verification division," but details of it will not be released. Reuters reported separately, they were told that what the OPCW had received was "part of the verification, and we expect more." State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf added that the US and other members of the OPCW executive committee "will be making a careful and thorough review of the initial document."

The arrival of the Syrian document at the OPCW has done little, however, to dampen the demands of the Obama Administration for harsh treatment of the Syrian government, to include the threat of force. U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, in a preview of President Obama's speech to the UN General Assembly, Sept. 24, told reporters on a telephone conference call, that Obama will use his speech to press for "quick action" on Syria. The speech will focus on the "need for the international community to stand up to the use of chemical weapons," Rhodes said, reported The Hill. But that is only "one part of a broader challenge in Syria," which also includes the "need for a political solution that removes Assad from power." Rhodes added that "We are not forsaking the option of the United States and our allies taking military action." The threat of force remains a non-starter for the Russians, however. According to RIA Novosti, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said week that the threat of the use of force is not acceptable in a resolution.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry and Lavrov continue to discuss cooperation on Syria. "We talked about the cooperation which we both agreed to continue to provide, moving not only towards the adoption of the OPCW rules and regulations, but also a resolution that is firm and strong within the United Nations," Kerry said, yesterday, during a joint press conference with Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmerman. "We will continue to work on that."