France: Russia bowed to Western pressure on Syria

France’s top diplomat praised Western pressure for leading to a “turnaround” in Russia’s position about chemical weapons in Syria.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius expressed France’s “interest and caution” about a proposal backed by Moscow for the chemical weapons arsenals held by Russia’s ally Syria to be placed under international control and destroyed.

On Europe-1 radio Tuesday, Fabius said Russia had “changed — very good!” He attributed this to Western pressure and “overwhelming evidence” of a chemical weapons attack in Syria.

The United States and France have threatened military action after the August 21 chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds.

Fabius also warned that finding and destroying “more than 1,000 tons of chemical weapons” would be very difficult and require international verification amid Syria’s civil war.

The Associated Press