Russia denies sending chemical weapons to Syria
August 21st, 2012 - 5:52 pm ICT by IANS
Moscow, Aug 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Syria has no Russia-made chemical weapons stockpile, a Russian official said Tuesday.
Col. Vladimir Mandych, deputy director of the Federal Agency for Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons, said: “Syria is one of the countries that did not sign the chemical weapons convention. As far as I know, no Russian-made chemical weapons have ever been supplied to Syria.”
US President Barack Obama Monday said Syria’s chemical weapons would be a “red line” that would change Washington’s stance on a foreign military intervention into the Syrian conflict.
The Syrian foreign ministry said in July that Damascus may use chemical weapons against external aggression as the West pushes for a possible military intervention in the country torn by violent clashes between troops loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad and opposition forces.
The Syrian stockpile of chemical weapons is believed to consist mostly of large amounts of sarin, tabun and mustard gas.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm/dg
- Russia reminds Syria of 1925 chemical weapons ban - Jul 25, 2012
- Syria to use chemical weapons against foreign attack - Jul 23, 2012
- Obama warns Syria against using chemical weapons - Jul 24, 2012
- Syria's use of chemical weapons unacceptable: Pentagon - Jul 25, 2012
- Russia hits out at West's 'chilling' stance on Syria - Jul 25, 2012
- Russia slams West over Syria allegations - Jul 20, 2012
- 'Terrorists may get hold of Syrian chemical weapons' - Jun 12, 2012
- Putin, Obama did not discuss refuge for Assad: Official - Jul 19, 2012
- Russian arms supply to Syria not for protesters: Lavrov - Jun 10, 2012
- US team visits Moscow over Syria crisis - Jun 08, 2012
- France urges new Syria sanctions - Jun 14, 2012
- Russia, China must pay for supporting Assad: Clinton - Jul 06, 2012
- Russian troops won't be sent to Syria: Lavrov - Mar 15, 2012
- US blames Russia, China for Annan mission failure - Aug 03, 2012
- Syria's Assad not ready to stand down - Jul 20, 2012
Tags: barack obama, bashar al assad, chemical weapons convention, damascus, deputy director, destruction of chemical weapons, dg, external aggression, foreign ministry, military intervention, moscow, mustard gas, opposition forces, president bashar, red line, ria novosti, russian official, tabun, violent clashes, vladimir