Putin Says Proof of Chemical Arms Attack Not Enough to Justify U.S. Attack
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
In an interview published on Wednesday, President Vladimir V. Putin of
Russia pointedly warned that an attack on Syria without authorization of
the United Nations Security Council would be a violation of
international law.
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: September 4, 2013
MOSCOW — In an interview published on Wednesday, President Vladimir V.
Putin said it seemed “completely ridiculous” for the government of
President Bashar al-Assad to have used chemical weapons and that there
was still not sufficient proof to justify the military strike that
President Obama has asked Congress to authorize.
Mr. Putin, speaking to The Associated Press and Russia’s
government-controlled Channel One television network ahead of the Group
of 20 summit meeting to be held this week in St. Petersburg, pointedly
warned that an attack without authorization of the United Nations
Security Council would be a violation of international law. The
government released a transcript of the interview.
Mr. Putin expressed doubt about the evidence presented so far by
Secretary of State John Kerry and said that more “convincing” results
from United Nations inspectors was needed before considering the use of
force. “We do not have exact details of what happened,” he said of the
situation in Syria. “Is it a chemical weapon or just some chemical
pollutants?”
He insisted, however, that it made no sense for Mr. Assad’s government
to use chemical weapons given the likelihood it would provoke an
international response.
“In our view, it seems completely ridiculous that the regular armed
forces, who are actually on the attack and in some places have the
so-called rebels surrounded and are finishing them off, that in these
conditions” would use prohibited chemical weapons, Mr. Putin said,
“understanding quite well that this could be a reason for sanctions on
them, including the use of force. It’s just ridiculous. It does not fit
into any logic.”
Asked if Russia might support a military strike, Mr. Putin replied, “I
do not exclude it.” But he quickly warned against any action without
United Nations Security Council authorization.
“I want to draw your attention to one absolutely fundamental fact,” he
said. “In accordance with applicable international law, the
authorization of the use of force against a sovereign state can only be
given by the Security Council of the United Nations. Any other reasons,
or methods, to justify the use of force against an independent and
sovereign state are unacceptable and cannot be qualified as anything
other than aggression.”
Mr. Putin said that if there is objective, conclusive proof of the use
of chemical weapons, “then, there will be a reaction.” But he pointedly
demanded to know what the United States would do if it turned out that
the opposition rather than the Syrian government was to blame.
“If it is determined that these rebels used weapons of mass destruction,
what will the United States do with the rebels?” Mr. Putin asked. “What
will the sponsors of the rebels do? Stop the supply of arms? Will they
start fighting against the rebels?”
Mr. Putin and Russia have been looking forward to holding the G-20
conference in St. Petersburg, the president’s hometown, but the summit,
which had been expected to focus on economic issues, is now certain to
be overshadowed by discussion of the conflict in Syria.
In the interview, Mr. Putin also addressed a number of simmering issues,
including Russia’s sharply deteriorated relations with the United
States and Mr. Obama’s decision to cancel a separate meeting with Mr.
Putin that had been scheduled to take place in Moscow this week before
the G-20.
The White House cited a raft of disagreements with Russia as the reason
for calling off the meeting, but the final straw was the decision by
Russia to grant temporary asylum to Edward J. Snowden, the National
Security agency leaker.
In the interview, Mr. Putin mostly struck a conciliatory tone, saying he
did not view the cancellation of the meeting with Mr. Obama as a
“catastrophe” and that contacts between the two countries continue.
“We understand that in connection with policies of Russia on some issues
there is annoyance within the American administration,” Mr. Putin said.
“But there is nothing we can do about that. I think, actually, that is
it is good not to be annoyed and instead have patience and work to find
solutions.”
Mr. Putin said the relationship was necessarily difficult at times.
“President Obama was not elected by the American people in order to be
pleasant to Russia nor was your humble servant elected by the Russian
people to be pleasant to anyone,” he said. “We work, we argue on some
things, we’re people. Sometimes someone gets annoyed. But we try again.
Mutual global interests, it seems to me, are still a good foundation for
finding collaborative solutions.”
Mr. Putin, in the interview, which took place Tuesday night at his
country house outside of Moscow, also said that Russia does not have
policies that discriminate against gays — answering criticism over new
legislation barring “propaganda” on nontraditional sexual relationships.
The legislation, widely viewed as an effort to suppress homosexuality,
has led to international criticism and even some calls for a boycott of
the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The Syria issue, however, dominated the interview. Mr. Putin said Russia
would continue selling weapons to the Assad government but he also
insisted that Russia’s position was not to defend the regime but rather
larger principles.
“We do not defend this government,” he said. “We are defending very
different things. We protect the norms and principles of international
law. We protect the modern world order.” COPY http://global.nytimes.com/
COPY http://global.nytimes.com/
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