Russia, Syria Work on 'Concrete' Chemical Weapons Plan

Russia is currently negotiating with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad for the development of a concrete plan for Syria to place its chemical weapons stockpile under international control.

The information was reported Tuesday by Bulgarian Focus news agency, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as quoted by AFP.

"We (Russia) are currently working on preparing a workable, precise and concrete plan and for this there are literally right now, in these minutes, contacts with the Syrian side. And we expect to present this plan soon and we will be ready to work on it with the UN secretary general, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, with the participation of members of the UN Security Council," Lavrov has said.

The idea Syria could avoid military intervention by securing a deal to destroy the regime's chemical weapons was first voiced by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, at a Monday press briefing in London.

It was backed in a TV interview by President, Barack Obama, while Lavrov later informed he has presented the proposal during talks with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem.

Muallem told reporters that Syria welcomed the initiative, and he praised Russia for "attempting to prevent American aggression against our people."

Iran, Syria's main regional ally, has been quick to also welcome the Russian proposal.

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