Syria conflict: China warns against unilateral military action
NATO chief calls for firm international response.
NATO chief calls for firm international response. PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIJING:
China said on Monday it was seriously concerned about any unilateral military action against Syria after US President Barack Obama delayed a military response to last month’s chemical weapons attack near Damascus until after a congressional vote.
The United States has explained to China its evidence on chemical weapons use in Syria, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily news briefing.
China has said that no side should rush to pre-judge the results of an investigation by UN chemical weapons experts in Syria, who it said should carry out an objective and impartial investigation in consultation with the Syrian government.
In a related development, French intelligence report shown to lawmakers blames the Syrian President Bashar al Assad for carrying out a ‘massive and coordinated’ chemical attack in Damascus on Aug. 21
The nine-page document — drawn up by France’s military and foreign intelligence services — listed five points that suggested Assad’s fighters were behind the assault, the source told Reuters.
Meanwhile, speaking in Brussels, Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said a firm international response is needed against chemical weapons attack in Syria,
“We believe that these unspeakable actions which claimed the lives of hundreds of men, women and children cannot be ignored,” Rasmussen told a news conference.
“I think there is an agreement that we need a firm international response in order to avoid that chemical attacks take place in the future. It would send, I would say, a dangerous signal to dictators all over the world if we stand idly by and don’t react,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.
China said on Monday it was seriously concerned about any unilateral military action against Syria after US President Barack Obama delayed a military response to last month’s chemical weapons attack near Damascus until after a congressional vote.
The United States has explained to China its evidence on chemical weapons use in Syria, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily news briefing.
China has said that no side should rush to pre-judge the results of an investigation by UN chemical weapons experts in Syria, who it said should carry out an objective and impartial investigation in consultation with the Syrian government.
In a related development, French intelligence report shown to lawmakers blames the Syrian President Bashar al Assad for carrying out a ‘massive and coordinated’ chemical attack in Damascus on Aug. 21
The nine-page document — drawn up by France’s military and foreign intelligence services — listed five points that suggested Assad’s fighters were behind the assault, the source told Reuters.
Meanwhile, speaking in Brussels, Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said a firm international response is needed against chemical weapons attack in Syria,
“We believe that these unspeakable actions which claimed the lives of hundreds of men, women and children cannot be ignored,” Rasmussen told a news conference.
“I think there is an agreement that we need a firm international response in order to avoid that chemical attacks take place in the future. It would send, I would say, a dangerous signal to dictators all over the world if we stand idly by and don’t react,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.