Russian weapons deal victory for Syria: Syrian minister

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 15, 2013 5:50PM GMT

A senior Syrian official says the deal proposed by Russia to place Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons under international supervision is a ?victory’ for Damascus.

Syrian Minister of National Reconciliation Ali Haidar made the remarks a day after the agreement was reached between Moscow and Washington.

"This agreement, an achievement of Russian diplomats and the Russian leadership, is a victory for Syria, won thanks to our Russian friends," Haidar said on Sunday.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reached the agreement on Saturday, September 14, following three days of talks in Geneva.

The talks in Geneva came following a proposal by Russia to Syria that the latter put its chemical weapons under international control. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Muallem said on Monday, September 9, that his country “welcomes” the Russian offer.

Under the agreement, Syria must clear its chemical weapons stockpile by 2014.

"We welcome this agreement. From one point of view, it will help Syrians exit the crisis, from another, it has prevented a war against Syria, having taken away the pretext for one from those who wanted to unleash (it)," Haidar added.

Meanwhile, a high-ranking Syrian official speaking on condition of anonymity said the deal was “satisfying.”

"Syria has always believed that a good agreement is a win-win agreement, and this is the case with the Geneva.”

The Arab League voiced its support for the Russia-US deal, saying that it was a step closer to a political resolution of the unrest in Syria.

SZH/PR