Putin says US, Russia agree on how to destroy Syria's chemical weapons

Russian president says he believes OPCW experts will be able to accomplish goal of ridding Syria of its chemical arms within a year.

By REUTERS
Russia's President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Kerry (photo credit: Reuters)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Kerry
(photo credit: Reuters)
NUSA DUA, Indonesia- Russia and the United States agree on how to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday after meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry.
"We have a common understanding of what needs to be done and how. I am very glad that President (Barack) Obama is occupying this position (on chemical arms)," Putin told reporters at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade summit on the Indonesian island of Bali.
International experts charged with starting the process of verifying and eliminating chemical weapons arrived in Syria earlier this month. Russia, Syria's long-time ally and arms supplier, has offered to assist with the demolition process.
Putin said he believed experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) would be able to accomplish their goal of ridding Syria of its chemical arms within a year.
"We and the Americans, the whole international community trust them," he said. "If they are saying it is possible to do this (eliminate Syria's chemical arms) in one year, then that's the way it is."
The team of experts, supported by the United Nations, aim to oversee destruction of the Syria's chemical weapons production and mixing equipment by Nov. 1, and deal with all chemical weapons materials by the end of June 2014.
Putin praised Syria for cooperation on the plan to destroy its chemical arsenal, a deal brokered by Moscow and Washington last month amid a possibility of U.S. military strikes against the forces of President Bashar al-Assad.
"The doubts regarding the readiness of the Syrian leadership to adequately respond to the decisions on chemical weapons proved to be unjustified," he said. "Syria has joined these efforts actively, is acting very transparently...and I hope this work will continue further at the same pace and in the same direction."
Relations between Washington and Moscow are strained by a number of issues, including remaining differences on Syria and Putin's record on human rights and democracy.
Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad, whose fight against armed opposition groups has taken the lives of 100,000 people in more than two years. Moscow and Beijing have vetoed three UN resolutions intended to put pressure on Damascus.