Arabi welcomes Russian proposal for Syria

Arab League Secretary General Nabil el-Arabi underlined the importance of Russia's plan to place Syria's chemical weapons under international control. He further said that it constitutes an important development in resolving the Syrian crisis. The chief of the pan-Arab body also pointed out to the Arab League Council meeting, which was held early this month, and urged the United Nations and the international community to hold the responsibility in taking the appropriate deterrent measures against the perpetrators of the chemical weapons crime. Speaking in the emergency meeting of the Arab League Council on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the Syrian crisis and the Russian initiative in this respect, Arabi underlined the need of resuming efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis. The Arab League supported the peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis from the very beginning, he added. Moscow made the surprise proposal Monday when Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the Syrian regime to place its chemical weapons arsenal under international control to prevent the United States launching an attack to punish it for the chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of civilians. Lavrov said that the offer was put on the table during talks with his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Moallem, who welcomed the suggestion. Lavrov also revealed that he had urged his Syrian counterpart to "not only agree on placing chemical weapons storage sites under international control, but also on their subsequent destruction. Source: MENA