The five key members of the United Nations Security Council are about to meet to discuss the Syria crisis.
UNITED NATIONS: Envoys from the five permanent UN Security Council member states were to meet in New York yesterday to discuss plans to place Syrian chemical weapons under international control, UN diplomats said.
US, French and British diplomats were meeting before then to continue discussions on a possible draft UN Security Council resolution. An initial French draft called for giving the government of Syrian President Bashar
Al Assad an ultimatum to give up its chemical arsenal or face punitive measures, a text that Russia has said is unacceptable.
Diplomats said there have been other drafts under discussion and an attempt was being made to come up with a common language agreeable to all three Western powers. “I think we’ll come to an agreement,” a diplomat from one of the three told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Later, the French, American and British envoys were to join Russian and Chinese diplomats for a meeting of all five veto-wielding council members.
“I understand they will be discussing general principles of plans to deal with Syria’s chemical weapons,” a diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
REUTERS
