Russia backs U. N. resolution on Syria chemical weapons

UNITED NATIONS — Russia agreed Thursday to back a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution that demands Syria relinquish its chemical weapons by mid- 2014 but stops short of threatening President Bashar Assad with military force if he doesn’t comply.

The Obama administration hailed the draft agreement as a “breakthrough” despite the U. S. failure after nearly two weeks to persuadeRussia, Assad’s strongest international backer, to support a resolution that would invoke Chapter 7 of the U. N. Charter and could authorize the use of force or other action if Syria doesn’t disarm.

If Assad fails to comply, the matter would go back to the Security Council — where Russia holds a veto — for further consideration. Moscow has steadfastly opposed military intervention in Syria and has questioned a U. N. investigation that determined chemical weapons were used in an attack on rebel- held suburbs of Damascus onAug. 21 that killed more than 1,000 people.

Without the threat of force to enforce the deal, it’s unclearifAssadwillfulfillhis promise to give up his illicit stockpile of chemical warfare agents. U. S. officials say Syria possesses more than 1,000 tons of blister and nerve agents, including mustard, sarin andVXgases.

Supporters of the resolution say it will helpadvocates of strong penalties build supportforactionintheSecurity Council, or even outside it, if Assad fails to comply.

U. S. officials say Assad’s forces have fired artillery rockets or other munitions filledwithchemicalagents at least a dozen times against insurgents battling to overthrow him. The Aug. 21 attack, which involved sarin nerve gas, was the largest by far.

The State Department said the text that the five permanent Security Council members agreed to Thursday is “strong, binding and enforceable” and unites international opinion against theuseofchemicalweapons.

“This is historic and unprecedented because it puts oversight of the Assad regime’s compliance under international control,” read a statement attributed to an unidentified senior State Department official. “Equally as important, it makes absolutely clear that failure of the Assad regime to comply will have consequences,” the statement added.