US, British defense ministers discuss Russian initiative on chemical weapons in Syria

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and British Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond had a telephone Friday to discuss Russia’s proposal on placing the Syrian arsenal of chemical weapons under the international community’s control, the Pentagon press service said. Hagel thanked his British counterpart for the diplomatic efforts Britain keeps up in connection with the civil war in Syria and the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syrian government forces. The sides exchanged opinions on the Russian proposal on how to ensure security of the weapons. The press service declined to tell Itar-Tass what particular opinions Hagel and Hammond had expressed but it said an answer might follow if the officials considered it necessary. It said however that Hagel had familiarized Hammond with the new data on U.S. activity in the Eastern Mediterranean in response to the use of chemical weapons by Syria.