Kerry to Russians: This is not a game

[JI7]

Kerry said that American patience with the proposal, aimed at heading off U.S. military action, is limited. Kerry, Lavrov and a group of technical experts will meet again on Friday to discuss the Russian plan.

"Expectations are high," Kerry said in a joint appearance with Lavrov. "They are high for the United States, and perhaps even more so for the Russians, to deliver on the promise of this moment. This is not a game, and I said this to my friend Sergey, when we talked about this initially."

Kerry also rejected Assad's suggestion — which the Syrian president made in a television interview that aired Thursday — that he would begin submitting data on his chemical weapons arsenal one month after signing an international chemical weapons ban. Assad claimed that the 30-day lead time would be standard. The Syrians also formally informed the United Nations on Thursday that they wished to join an international chemical weapons ban treaty.

"There is nothing standard about this process," Kerry said. "The words of the Syrian regime in our judgment are simply not enough."

Kerry reiterated that Obama could still order a U.S. military strike if the Russian proposal is unsuccessful and Assad doesn't dismantle his chemical weapons arsenal.

"There ought to be consequences if it doesn't take place," he said.

Lavrov, who spoke briefly before Kerry, appeared surprised by the length, and perhaps, the substance of Kerry's remarks.

"I'm not prepared with an extended political statement," Lavrov said after Kerry's remarks. "Diplomacy likes silence."


http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/12/kerry-lavrov-geneva-syria-assad-obama/2805625/