An attack against Syria would create a new wave of terrorism and divide the United Nations. The rebels also planning a chemical attack against Israel. No agreement at the UN Security Council . Rebels reject Russian plan on consignment of chemical weapons to the international community .

Washington (AsiaNews) - Vladimir Putin is urging Member States not to use force against Syria because it may lead to a destabilization of the region and a new wave of international terrorism.

In an article published yesterday in the New York Times, the Russian president reaffirms that chemical weapons were not used by Syria, but by the rebels, to "provoke the intervention of their powerful foreign sponsors".

The article,  friendly in tone but with cutting arguments, was published on the eve of the meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva today to study the implementation of the Russian proposal : the handing over of all chemical weapons in Syria to the international community and signing of the UN resolution that prohibits their use.

The Russian President asks America not to proceed with a unilateral military intervention because this would undermine the function of the UN.

"The potential strike by the United States against Syria, - writes Putin - despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria's borders".

"A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance".

Putin also reveals that "reports that militants are preparing another attack - this time against Israel - cannot be ignored".

"But force has proved ineffective and pointless. Afghanistan is reeling, and no one can say what will happen after international forces withdraw. Libya is divided into tribes and clans. In Iraq the civil war continues, with dozens killed each day. In the United States, many draw an analogy between Iraq and Syria, and ask why their government would want to repeat recent mistakes. "

Meanwhile , the UN Security Council, is arguing over how Syria should deliver chemical weapons : France demands that this be done in 15 days and that a resolution threatening the use of force if it does not . But experts say more time is needed and more UN personnel to oversee and verify delivery. Russia and China, major allies of Syria , oppose any threat .

In Syria , some analysts point out that the proposal to deliver chemical weapons was approved by the Foreign Minister Walid Muallam , but so far there has been no comment from Bashar Assad.

The Washington Post reports that the CIA has started delivery of weapons to the rebels after months of delay. It is machine guns, other weapons and ammunition. There are rumors that the rebels , the Free Syrian Army and fundamentalist rebels close to Al Qaeda , are opposed to the Russian plan on the delivery of chemical weapons to the international community .

 

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