Kerry to Syria: 'Threat of Force Is Real'

Secretary warns of consequences if US-Russia deal isn't carried out
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 15, 2013 12:13 PM CDT
Kerry to Syria: 'Threat of Force Is Real'
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry walks to his car after arriving at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. Kerry arrived in Israel for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after sealing a deal with Russia on securing Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles....   (Larry Downing)

Secretary of State John Kerry today sent a strong warning to Syria, saying "the threat of force is real" if it does not carry out an internationally brokered agreement to hand over its chemical weapons. Kerry issued the warning during a stop in Jerusalem, where he briefed jittery Israeli leaders on the new US-Russian plan to rid neighboring Syria of its chemical weapons by the middle of next year. In comments aimed at his hosts, Kerry said the deal also served as a "marker" for the international community as it deals with Iran's suspect nuclear program. "We cannot have hollow words in the conduct of international affairs," Kerry said.

"These are crimes against humanity and they cannot be tolerated," Kerry warned. The Syria deal was greeted with cautious optimism in Israel, where leaders expressed satisfaction that Syria, a bitter enemy, could be stripped of dangerous weapons but also pessimism about whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will comply. Meanwhile, Syria's national reconciliation minister, Ali Haidar, hailed the US-Russia deal as a "victory" for his nation. "On the one hand they will help Syrians get out of the crisis, and on the other hand, they averted a war against Syria by removing the pretext for those who wanted to unleash one." Click for President Obama's comments this morning on the Syria deal. (More John Kerry stories.)

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