Syria Applies To Join Chemical Weapons Treaty

Russia and the US are holding a second day of tense discussions over how Syria will give up its chemical weapons.

Ahead of the main meetings in Geneva, US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov first met the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, to discuss a parallel proposal for peace talks.

But it was the issue of chemical weapons that was set to dominate, after Syria formally applied to join the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The treaty bans the production, use and stockpiling of chemical weapons, and Syria's decision to join it has been welcomed by the Russia, Iran and China.

L to R: Mr Lavrov, Mr Brahimi and Mr Kerry

"I would like to express hope that it will be a very serious step on the path to solving the Syrian crisis," Russian leader Vladimir Putin said.

The UN also welcomed Syria's move - the first stage of a four-point plan -  but said that it could take 30 days for it to become a member.

Syrian President Bashar al Assad has also said the process of surrendering the stockpile would begin when he hands over information on the weapons in 30 days.

However, the US has firmly rejected that timetable and wants more immediate action.

The Syrian leader said US threats must stop if he is to give up weapons

Before today's talks started, Mr Kerry said despite 30 days being normal procedure, Syria's words were "simply not enough".

"There is nothing standard about this process," he added.

America's top diplomat is wary of any stalling tactics and said there could still be military strikes if the Syrian regime reneged on its promises.

"There ought to be consequences if it doesn't take place," Mr Kerry warned at a news conference.

Mr Assad managed to avert potential US strikes by agreeing to the deal, but denied being influenced by the military threat.

"Syria is placing its chemical weapons under international control because of Russia. The US threats did not influence the decision," the Syrian leader told Russian state TV.

Supporters of Mr Assad celebrated his birthday earlier this week

Mr Assad also said the deal was a two-sided process.

"We are counting, first of all, on the United States to stop conducting the policy of threats regarding Syria," he said.

Syrian deputy prime minister Qadri Jamil also suggested the Russian proposal would only succeed if the US and its allies promised not to attack Syria in the future.

After agreeing to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Syria must then declare exactly what weapons it has.

The third stage of the plan is for UN inspectors to visit the country and verify Mr Assad's declaration.

The final stage is for the weapons to be destroyed.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the plan faces "immense practical difficulties", although obstacles could be overcome "with sufficient international unity and goodwill".

The plan faces 'immense practical difficulties', says William Hague

The US claims a chemical gas attack on August 21 killed 1,429 people, but other estimates of the deaths are lower.

Syria and Russia blame the country's rebel forces for the atrocity.

UN weapons inspectors, who took samples from the scene in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, are due to report next week.

The political wrangling comes as conventional fighting - such as rocket attacks and gun battles - continues in many of Syria's devastated towns and cities.

Fierce conventional warfare continues in Damascus

For those on the ground it is this type of warfare that is ripping the country apart.

"The reality is conventional weapons killed hundreds of thousands and made many millions of refugees," one soldier told Sky correspondent Alex Rossi, who is in Damascus.

"Nobody talks about that - only the use of chemicals."

Fighting in the northern city of Aleppo also remains as fierce as ever.

Government forces, bolstered by Hizbollah troops from neighbouring Lebanon, are ramping up their attack on the opposition stronghold.

The two-and-a-half-year civil war has claimed more than 100,000 lives and created more than two million refugees, according to recent UN figures.

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