Baird slams lack of action on Syria
Evidence of chemical weapons growing, he says
OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird expressed frustration Friday over the world’s failure to stop the conflict in Syria.
Yet he also refused to say what Canada will do, if anything, should the Syrian government be found to have used chemical weapons against its own people.
Following the emergence of disturbing video this week that purports to show Syrians suffering through a nerve-gas attack, Baird said there is “mounting evidence” the Syrian government has used the banned weapon in its ongoing campaign against rebel forces.
“The fact that Syria continues to bombard this particular geographic area is telling,” Baird said. “And the fact that Syria won’t let the UN inspectors who are on the ground in the country today visit this area is a very telling action.”
He also called the Syrian government’s claims that rebel forces used the chemical weapons and blamed it on the Syrian government to curry favour with the West as “patently ridiculous.”
Baird acknowledged there is “no simple answer” when it comes to resolving the two-year conflict, while taking issue with the United Nations Security Council’s failure to come to agreement on a way forward.
“What can the world do?” he asked. “After the (Security Council) meeting yesterday there was no agreement. There is no opportunity even to have an official response to the council.”
France has threatened military action if it is proven the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its own people.
Yet when asked what steps Canada is prepared to take, Baird repeated past assertions that the first step is to verify whether chemical weapons had in fact been used, and by whom.
He also refused to say whether Canada is entertaining military action if the claims are proven, despite having threatened “serious consequences” last year if the Syrian government used chemical weapons.
“We’re going to get the facts first and talk to our friends and allies before we come to any conclusions,” he said.