Statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding the situation around Syria's chemical weapons

On September 9, in Moscow we had talks with Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. After the talks, we learnt that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had said that military strikes on Syria could be prevented if Bashar Assad handed over chemical weapons stock. We do not know whether the Syrian government will agree to do so, but if international control over Syria’s chemical arsenal helps avoid military strikes we shall without delay start working with Damascus. We call on the Syrian government to hand over chemical weapons stockpiles, agree to their consequent destruction and become a full-fledged member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
We have already passed this proposal to Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem who is now staying in Moscow. We expect a prompt and positive response.