U.N. Vote on Syria Chemical Weapons Late Friday, Obama Says Resolution 'Huge Victory'
The U.N. Security Council will meet at 8:00 pm (0000 GMT) on Friday for a vote on a U.S.-Russian resolution on destroying Syria's chemical weapons, the U.N. confirmed.
The meeting, which will follow adoption of a Russia-U.S. disarmament plan for Syria, was confirmed by Australia, president of the Security Council for September.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama hailed later on Friday the U.N. Syria resolution as "a huge victory" for the world.
But Obama acknowledged legitimate concerns over the dismantling of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal and whether the regime of President Bashar Assad would live up to its commitments.
The U.N. Security Council was to meet at 8:00 pm (0000 GMT) on Friday to vote on the resolution, which will follow a Russia-U.S. plan on the disarmament of Syria's chemical weapons.
"This is something that we have long sought," Obama told reporters as he met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Oval Office.
Obama hailed the resolution and disarmament plans as a "legally binding" and "verifiable" initiative which threatens consequences if Syria did not adhere to conditions.
"I think it is a potentially huge victory for the international community," Obama said.
"Realistically, it is doubtful we would have arrived at this point had it not been for a credible threat of U.S. action in the aftermath of the horrific tragedy that took place on August 21," Obama said, referring to a chemical weapons attack on a Damascus suburb.
Obama said he was hopeful about what the accord could achieve but added that he understood there were concerns about how to implement it.
"Rightly, people have been concerned about whether Syria would follow through on commitments.
"I think there are legitimate concerns as to how technically we are going to be getting those chemical weapons while there is still fighting going on around."
The president also expressed satisfaction that the world had come together to act on Syria, after betraying open exasperation at the gridlock in the United Nations after the chemical weapons attack.
"This represents essentially a significant step forward and I think indicates what I had hoped for when I spoke at the United Nations just this week, that we have an international community that is not just gathering to talk but also is able to take concerted action on behalf of enforcing international norms and preserving everybody's security."
Source: Agence France Presse
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