International Reactions

CHINA: Beijing calls for fair inspection

China hopes that the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria will be fair and objective in investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Friday. "China's position on the use of chemical weapons is consistent and clear. No matter who uses chemical weapons, we will firmly oppose the action," Hua Chunying told a regular news conference in Beijing. Hua said China hopes the UN commission will conduct investigations in line with relevant international law and UN Security Council resolutions.

RUSSIA: Peace talks to be hurt

Washington's decision will hurt the chances of a new Russia-US peace initiative on the crisis, a senior foreign policy aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin said. "What was presented by the Americans does not look convincing to us," Yury Ushakov told reporters. The chances of holding a Syrian peace conference that Russia and the United States proposed jointly on May 7 would be hurt by the decision to provide military support for the opposition, he added.

FRANCE: UN decision on no-fly zone 'unlikely'

France said on Friday that establishing a no-fly zone in Syria was unlikely for now because of opposition from some members of the United Nations Security Council. "The problem with this type of measure is that it can only be put in place with approval from the international community," French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot told journalists. "A decision from the United Nations Security Council is needed, and not just any decision," he said. A Chapter 7 resolution authorizing military action was needed and that was unlikely to be passed, he said.

BRITAIN: Hague says he agrees with US

Britain agrees with the United States' assessment of chemical weapons use in Syria and calls for coordinated response from the international community, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Friday. "We agree with the US assessment that chemical weapons, including sarin, have been used in Syria by the Assad government," Hague said. "The United Kingdom has presented evidence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria to the UN investigation, and we have been working with our allies to get more and better information about the situation on the ground," he said.

NATO: Chemical weapons 'unacceptable'

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Friday that any use of chemical weapons in Syria was "completely unacceptable" and a breach of international law. "This is indeed a matter of great concern. The international community has made clear that any use of chemical weapons is completely unacceptable and a clear breach of international law," he told reporters at NATO headquarters. "I welcomed the clear US statement. It is urgent that the Syrian regime should grant access to the United Nations to investigate all reports of chemical weapons use," he said.

Xinhua-AFP-AP-Reuters

(China Daily 06/15/2013 page8)