Norway turned down a request from the United States to take part in destroying Syria’s chemical weapons on its soil, the country’s foreign minister said Friday.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said his country is incapable of handling Washington’s request by the deadlines given.
“With the understanding of the United States we have concluded that... it’s no longer appropriate to consider Norway as a site for the destruction [of the weapons],” Brende said in statements carried by Agence France-Presse.
The U.N. Security Council adopted its Resolution 2118 in September, demanding the destruction of Syria's entire chemical arsenal, estimated at about 1,000 tonnes, by June 30 next year.
The resolution was a last-minute measure to prevent U.S. air attacks on Syria in retaliation for the regime's alleged use of the weapons against its own people.
Brende said the United States is currently looking for an alternative location, according to the Associated Press.
(with AFP)
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