NATO has no info on Syrian opposition's use of chemical weapons - Vershbow
(All quotes are transcribed from the original English)
MOSCOW. March 29 (Interfax) - NATO does not possess information indicating that the Syrian opposition used chemical weapons but does have concerns that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may use such weapons against his own people, NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow said.
"At this point, there is no confirmation of any actual use of chemical weapons by anyone in the conflict. At this point, there is no evidence that opposition forces possess chemical weapons," Vershbow said in an interview with Interfax.
"Our primary concern is a possibility that the Assad regime, which does indeed have considerable stockpiles of chemical weapons, could use them against its own people," Vershbow said.
"That would of course be a very significant development if it were to occur. President Obama and Secretary-General Rasmussen have indicated that that would cross a red line if they were to use chemical weapons," he said.
"I think that here Russia and the members of NATO have common interest, and I think a common position that is made clear in other certain conflicts that any use of chemical weapons would be unacceptable, would be the violation of Syria's obligations under the Geneva Convention," he said.
"Hopefully, President Assad is listening. He is hearing not only from his Russian friends but also the members of NATO," Vershbow said.
Asked about the possibility of NATO's intervention in Syria, Vershbow replied, "We are not planning any military intervention in Syria, and as the secretary-general explained, there are many differences between the situation in Syria and the situation two years ago in Libya."
"Of course, the members of NATO are deeply concerned about the rising violence, the terrible destruction and humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding in Syria. But our view is that it is still desirable to steer events towards a political solution and orderly transition in Syria. And we support efforts by the international community to that end," he said.
The full version of Vershbow's interview will be available later at www.interfax.com.