Lavrov says authors of UN resolution on Syria try to poison atmosphere at Geneva talks

MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. Authors of the resolution debated at the UN Security Council on chemical attacks in Syria pursued a goal to poison the atmosphere of Intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

"Without any prior negotiating procedure, the resolution was hurriedly submitted for voting at the UN Security Council," Lavrov said. "First, this was done with full understanding that the resolution would be vetoed. It means the co-authors wanted the Security Council to split up. Second, it was done at the very moment when the intra-Syrian talks, which we had been expecting so long, were relaunched in Geneva."

"The aim was not just divide the UN Security Council but to poison the atmosphere of intra-Syrian talks," he said.

"Any suspicion (that chemical weapons are used - TASS) should be assessed thoroughly and, above all, impartially," Lavrov said. "That is what we have proposed should be done."

Moscow calls for "the most comprehensive investigation into any accidents related to possible use of chemical weapons," Lavrov said.

"We ourselves, taking into account the facts our military had obtained in Syria, have submitted corresponding documents to the Hague, headquarters of the Organization of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)," he added. "We are ready to cooperate with the OPCW so that the facts will be re-verified."