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Middle East and North Africa

UN report on chemical weapons to be made public on Monday

Results already submitted to the UN during “informal consultations” with Security Council

Photo ITAR-TASS/ EPA/ ANDREW GOMBERT

Photo ITAR-TASS/ EPA/ ANDREW GOMBERT

UNITED NATIONS, September 12 (Itar-Tass) - The UN report on chemical weapons will be made public on Monday, September 16, a diplomatic source at the United Nations headquarters told Itar-Tass on Thursday. It is supposed to prove that chemical weapons, specifically, sarin nerve gas, were used in a Damascus outskirt on August 21.

The source added that inspection results were already unofficially submitted to the UN secretariat during “informal consultations” with the UN Security Council.

A team of UN experts visited Damascus and its suburbs in order to investigate alleged use of chemical weapons.

Deployment of nerve gas led to escalation of Syrian conflict to international proportions, with the US calling for an allied military strike and the world community split on what actions (if any) should be taken against Damascus. In order to prevent a potential war, rarlier this week Russia urged Syria to place chemical weapons under international control. “We do not know whether Syria will agree to this, but if such international control over chemical weapons in that country helps avoid the strikes, we will start working with Damascus immediately,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday, September 9. Foreign officials mostly supported this idea.

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Polish leader cautions NATO allies against provoking Russia

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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Foreign delegations show great interest in Russian defense products — security official

The 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues took place in St. Petersburg on April 23-25

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North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

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Top Chinese diplomat calls for creating conditions for talks on Ukraine

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