Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday gave qualified support to a Russian plan to place Syria’s chemical weapons under international control as a way of averting U.S. military strikes.
“If the regime immediately surrendered its stockpiles to international control … that would be an important step,” Mrs. Clinton said at the White House after a meeting with President Obama. “But this cannot be another excuse for delay or obstruction.”
She said the Syrian situation was “fluid,” given Russia’s proposal earlier in the day. And she added that Russia, which has blocked international sanctions against Syria, must “support the international community’s efforts sincerely or be held to account.”
“This is about protecting the Syrian people and our friends in the region,” she said. “The world will have to deal with this threat as swiftly and comprehensively as possible.”
Mrs. Clinton, who left her post earlier this year, had been at the White House to participate in an event about international wildlife trafficking.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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