Tillerson to press Russian Federation on Syrian chemical weapons

Adjust Comment Print

Speaking after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Johnson said ministers "will be discussing the possibility of further sanctions, certainly, on some of the Syrian military figures and indeed on some of the Russian military figures".

Haley again took a swipe at Russian Federation for failing to rein in its ally and said Moscow must reconsider its support for Assad.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on the Shayrat air base, southeast of Homs, over a chemical weapons attack he blamed on Syria's government.

Residents cowered in bedrooms and basements throughout Saturday, underscoring the apparently unchanged threat they faced from the Syrian government's arsenal of rockets, barrel bombs and other weapons that have resulted in a majority of the conflict's half-million dead.

Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation", Sen.

Alfano said the site of past Nazi atrocities was a reminder that "peace is not a given". The U.S. and United Kingdom are already convinced of the Syria's government's guilt but other leaders want the investigation concluded before introducing any further measures.

Tillerson also attended the meeting at the 15th century Ducal Palace, along with foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. "I welcome this renewed harmony". "We're prepared to do more".

The US has conducted air strikes against the so-called Islamic State, which controls territory in eastern and northern Syria, and a small number of US troops are helping rebel militias.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the pressing task for the G7 was to "find a political solution, a political transition" in Syria, particularly if the West wanted to triumph over the Islamic State group. Less than three months later, Kerry issued another statement in response to chlorine attacks that pointed again to "deep concerns regarding the accuracy and completeness of Syria's declaration".

He added that it was unclear whether Russian Federation had failed to take seriously its obligation to rid Syria of chemical weapons, or had merely been incompetent.

One killed, 3 injured in explosion at US Army plant in Missouri
One person has died and four were injured Tuesday after an explosion at an Army ammunition plant in Missouri, officials said. In the past 17 years, it has manufactured more than 17 billion rounds of small-caliber ammunition at the Independence plant.

During that meeting, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson raised the possibility of fresh sanctions against Russian Federation, according to Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano. Ambrose said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

"It is unclear whether Russian Federation failed to take this obligation serious or Russian Federation has been incompetent", Tillerson said.

Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow Tuesday carrying a message from a G7 united on that point - but divided on how far they are willing to push the Syrian dictator's ally and sponsor, Russia, to achieve that goal.

Washington has sent mixed signals about whether it shares the determination of allies including Britain that Assad must be removed from power.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani called for the formation of an worldwide fact-finding committee to investigate the chemical weapons attack.

"The United States took a very measured step last night", U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the U.N. Security Council.

Among European nations, there are also differences.

"I think it is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, but the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important, in our view, to the durability. of a unified Syria", Tillerson said.

"I think that Assad is ultimately dispensible to the Russians", says Antonova, "but he is not going to go easily".

She said Moscow "has always called for stable relations based on the global law", but according to her, "stability and consistency have long stopped to be the hallmark of Western foreign policy".

Comments