Kerry says any Syria chemical weapons deal must be in binding UN resolution with consequences

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State John Kerry says a proposed Russian deal with Syria to give up its chemical weapons stockpiles must be enshrined in a binding U.N. Security Council resolution that sets consequences for Syrian non-compliance.

Kerry said Tuesday that Russian suggestions that the U.N. endorsement come in the form of a non-binding statement from the rotating president of the Security Council would be unacceptable to the Obama administration. Kerry said the U.S. has to have “a full resolution from the Security Council in order to have confidence that this has the force that it has to have.” He added that the resolution must have “consequences if games are played and somebody tries to undermine this.”

Kerry’s comments came during an online Google+ roundtable.