In addition to that, there is – there are requirements in the framework, which you will see, that automatically take noncompliance and/or some question of deviation from the framework will go to the Security Council for debate as to what measure might be implemented. But there is an agreement between Russia and the United States that noncompliance is going to be held accountable within the Security Council under Chapter 7. What remedy is chosen is subject to the debate within the council, which is always true, but there’s a commitment to impose measures. That’s the language, will impose measures commensurate with whatever is needed in terms of the accountability. We think that’s an appropriate process and –

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: Should, should.

SECRETARY KERRY: Should. And as Sergey knows, under any circumstances, there would be a debate in the Security Council, even now. So there’s no diminishment, there’s no diminution of option. And it’s impossible, obviously, under these circumstances, to have a pre-agreement as to what that specific sanction might or might not be for circumstances that we don’t even know yet. Our hope is that we have a tight enough regimen that is agreed upon, as we have said, in the extraordinary measures that we have laid out.

We have actually agreed on the new process, on a more vigorous process, and a more defined process – for instance, the unfettered access of inspectors that is not in normal CWC procedure. But it will be embraced through a UN resolution as part of the process that exists here. So we have high anticipation that, as I said, if fully implemented, this will have an ability to be both verifiable, accountable, and the world will make its judgments as we go along.

Now with respect to the question of the use of force, first of all, the President of the United States, under our Constitution, as Commander-in-Chief, always retains the right to defend the United States of America and our interests, and he always has that right. Even as he asked Congress to approve, he retained a declared and understandable time-honored right with respect to his power as Commander-in-Chief. But the President also said he wanted to find a diplomatic solution to this. Now the potential of a threat of force is clearly one of those options that may or may not be available to the Security Council, and a subject to debate. Everybody knows the differences of opinion about it. But depending on what Assad does, that possibility exists either within the process of the United Nations, or as it did here, with a decision by the President of the United States and likeminded allies if they thought that was what it came to.

I think the President sending me here and directing me to work with my counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, as President Putin sent him here, indicates that both presidents believe the preferred route, which I think is the preferred route of most of the citizens of the world, is to find a peaceful solution to these kinds of conflicts. And that’s what I think we have worked in good faith to try to do here today.

MODERATOR: (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) (Inaudible), Kommersant newspaper. I have a question. If you have agreed about the quantity of chemical weapons, the volumes, and where it is going to be destroyed, on the Syrian territory or in a third country, and who’s going to pay for that? Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: (Via interpreter) On those documents – sorry, on the question, in the documents you are going to receive, they have the evaluations of our expert, estimated evaluations, by the final conclusion on these issues as well as others will adopt the organizing council of the organization. And the document have a common approach of the terms of the procedures and the volumes, but I would like to reiterate that this should be agreed in the framework of the OPCW and in the executive committee framework. Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: Let me just say that we have agreed, as you will see in the documents, on a basic assessment of the numbers and types and locations – we have agreed between us, and that’s a very important point here. Because we expect the Assad regime, obviously, in its declaration, to show the candor that we have shown in reaching that agreement.

With respect to the issue of destruction, there is a clause in which we agreed that we will contribute resources, including finance to some degree. We have a certain amount of budget for this kind of purpose. And we will seek, in the process of the UN and in the effort to have a global commitment to this, help from many other of our international partners. But we’re convinced the urgency of this will be a test for the international community’s commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and to the importance of restraining chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

So I think the global community will participate in this, can be achievable. As to where it is destructed, the experts really need to make determinations about individual weapons. Some can be destroyed on the site, many cannot, and that’s something that will have to be part of the CWC process that will be contained in the extraordinary procedures that we have called for.

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: (Via interpreter) As far as who is going to pay, I think that you heard that there were countries who were ready to pay for the war, and I’m sure that there will be such countries, perhaps not the same countries, who will be ready to finance the peaceful solution of the problem.

MODERATOR: The next question will be from David Lerman of Bloomberg.

SECRETARY KERRY: We’re going to send Sergey to talk to them and make that arrangement. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary?

SECRETARY KERRY: Yes.

QUESTION: David Lerman from Bloomberg. Sir, just five days ago in London, when you first floated this idea publicly, you seemed to dismiss it at the time by saying Assad would never do it and, quote, “It can’t be done, obviously.” My question, sir, is how did the impossible suddenly become possible? And why is it credible to think that you can send these inspectors in on the ground in the middle of a civil war?

SECRETARY KERRY: Sure.

QUESTION: And, as a practical matter, if you really want to get thorough, verifiable inspections in all corners of the country, don’t you have to stop the fighting first?

SECRETARY KERRY: Let me answer both questions. I purposefully made the statements that I made in London, and I did indeed say it was impossible and he won’t do it, even as I hoped it would be possible and wanted him to do it. And the language of diplomacy sometimes requires that you put things to the test, and we did.

Sergey and I have been talking even three days before that about this very concept. We had two phone calls on the Thursday and Friday before it. And I got a phone call very quickly from Sergey saying let’s see if we can take this and move, and he talked to his president and they talked – our presidents talked in St. Petersburg, and the rest is history. We’re here.

So, obviously, I would hope and always hoped that we could have removed those weapons, and we wanted to. But we didn’t know whether or not this could be given the kind of life it has been given in the last 48 hours. So, it just didn’t make sense to raise a concept that hadn’t yet been put to the test or agreed upon or worked through. I’m pleased that President Putin took initiative, and Sergey took initiative, and President Obama responded, and we’re here.

And so the question is, “So where do we go from here, and how do we build on this,” which I think is really critical. Now, how do you do this, quote, “in a time of war”? Well, look, this is logical. One of the reasons that we believe this is achievable is because the Assad regime has taken extraordinary pains in order to keep control of these weapons. And they have moved them, and we know they’ve moved them. We’ve seen them move them. We watched this. And so we know they’ve continued to always move them to a place of more control.

Therefore, since these weapons are in areas under regime control predominantly, Sergey raises questions that maybe the opposition has some here or there, and absolutely, fair is fair. Both sides have to be responsible. If they do, that also – and that may present a larger challenge. But those of us who have been supporting the opposition have a responsibility to help create access there, and the regime has responsibility where we believe the – the measure – in fact, we believe the only weapons are – ought to be accessible because the Assad regime controls the access.

So in point of fact, it shouldn’t be in a contested area, largely because they’ve been working to keep it out of the contested area, and that is the sort of silver lining, if you will, in – with the way in which they have contained these weapons. So it’s our expectation that with the cooperation of the international community, with adequate contribution of protection forces and of people to go on the ground, if the Assad regime is prepared to live up to its word, we should not have a problem achieving access to their sites. And that will quickly be put to the test.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter)

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) And the last question (inaudible). I have two short questions with your permission. Secretary (inaudible) first, if it is possible, could you please clarify? Yesterday in the hall of the hotel we saw Kofi Annan, very respected politician, and we would like to know what were his proposals. He came here with some proposals and he told that he went into the meeting with you two presently.

(In English) This is the same place, same building where, four years ago, Russia and the United States pushed their reset button. So after that conversation with Mr. Lavrov, do you think our countries might reset our relations again?

SECRETARY KERRY: Well –

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: Yeah –

SECRETARY KERRY: Go ahead.

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: Please, (inaudible).

SECRETARY KERRY: No. I think, as I said in my opening comments, we’ve had some differences here and there on certain issues. But we’ve also worked together cooperatively on many things. And Sergey Lavrov and I have never stopped talking. We have consistently been prepared to try to work to deal with issues, and that’s why we did Geneva I, and that’s why we’re here now with respect to this initiative.

Now, on larger issues, on Iran, Russia and the United States cooperate. On North Korea, Russia and the United States cooperate. On WTO, we cooperate. On START Treaty, we cooperate. On the reduction of nuclear weapons, we’ve been cooperating. We just had a 2+2 meeting, which means the two Secretaries of State and Defense meeting their counterparts from Russia in Washington, even in the midst of all the other hurly-burly about issues, and we had a very constructive meeting in which we laid out an agenda to continue to work on weapons of mass destruction, to continue to work on trade, to continue to work on other issues, even the issues that, in the press, get elevated into this question of reset, no reset, et cetera.

So I think – I hope Sergey feels the way I do – there are things we disagree on. But big nations, powerful nations, leaders, cannot afford to get caught up in the small things. And President Putin, to his credit, despite real disagreement with our policy, despite a disagreement with where we were heading, reached out and tried to continue the dialogue. So I would say look for the glass being half-full rather than half-empty, and let’s see how we proceed from here.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) president?

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: Can you wait a second for me to answer the last question? (Laughter.) Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: This is what I’ve been doing for the last couple days. (Laughter.)

FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: (Via interpreter) Speaking about the meeting with Kofi Annan, as far as I understand, John also met Kofi Annan. Kofi Annan does not have any official position, official post, but is really extremely important and distinguished politician. He is a member of the so-called club of the “Wise Persons,” and he participate in the Foundation support of UN created by Ted Turner and his wife not long ago with him – was in Moscow, and we also met. And it is clear that after – he stopped to become special representative in Syria, and his powers were transferred to Lakhdar Brahimi.

Kofi Annan, as a political animal, as he usually say, he cannot forget about this, especially taking into account that, as a personality, he takes care (inaudible) to avoid wars in the world, and to have more stability. And he is really personally concerned with the matter. And when we met with him, he just asked me to tell me how we see the situation and how do we manage to agree on the fact – it was almost in the evening, and it was understandable that we were very close to the agreement, and we told about this agreement today. And soon in the future, we’ll see legally binding documents in The Hague and in New York after this.

And I told you very sincerely that we are very worried with the attempts to frustrate any efforts aimed at calming down the situation at – avoiding certain and removing certain aspects of the Syrian conflict, including the efforts that were taken together with John today. And I told him that in the middle of our talks.

At the most crucial moment, we just saw on the screens of the television the message that Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, talked to some women in some club for women that the report of the inspectors who investigated the accident that happened in Ghouta on 21st of August will be presented on Monday. And he cannot reveal the substance of the report, but he will tell that the chemical weapons were used. And after this, we saw on the screen and Ban Ki-moon said that Bashar Assad – confirm that Bashar Assad committed crimes against humanity.

And then it occurred that there was some film production and there was false information and they were not related together, all this information. And he took into account the assessments were made by an independent commission that was created here in Geneva, this independent commission on Syria. And the members of this committee, they just mentioned the crimes against humanity, but the distinguished television channels just showed everything, and he showed everything, and he showed the information that Bashar al-Assad committed crimes against humanity. And if it’s – it was not just a full mistake, because the meeting was closed, and if it’s not – if it was not just a joke, but it was just an attempt to frustrate our meeting here in Geneva together with John Kerry, and they did not manage, thank God.

But anyway, the use of chemical weapons and the alleged use of chemical weapons should be investigated based on sincere facts. Everybody says that on the 21st of August, that the regime used these chemical weapons. But first of all, we should – everybody should wait for the conclusions of the report to determine whether the chemical weapons was – were used or not. But all these conclusions will be considered together with all other facts who could do this and why, to determine what happened, really, on 21st of August. If we are speaking a lot about the reinforcement of the role of the Security Council, let’s respect the Security Council. Let us not try to predetermine what will be the procedures of the Security Council. Let’s wait for the experts’ report. And there are a lot of facts on the August 21st events and what preceded these events.

And I talked to Kofi Annan and he supported me. It is necessary for the group of experts headed by (inaudible) extensive comeback to continue the investigation of other facts that were included also in the mandate of this group of experts. And I am also very concerned, and Kofi Annan also knows about this – I talked to him – that there is ground to suspect – to have suspicion that the report that will be presented on Monday – somebody tries to correct, to adjust, and to shift to someone’s side, as compared to what was written by the inspectors, and to be ready – that the Secretary General decided that Mr. (inaudible) will participate in the work of the Security Council personally. And all the questions that the Security Council will have will be addressed directly to him. And I beg your pardon that I was talking so long about all this, but Kofi Annan really was interested in many aspects, and I shared with him at least part of our concerns.

As for the question that was posed to John Kerry, I would like to support his words, to join his words, and I told him in introductory remarks that such agreements, such arrangements as we have today on the most difficult and complicated issues, and if this arrangement is not still law – it is not approved in the corresponding structures, but this is a Russian-American initiative. And without being too modest, when we work together, usually we manage to mobilize in support of the majority of the – even full international community, all the efforts. And it shows how important it is for us to go beyond some things that some people try to make most important things in our relations make – try to make them as obstacles in our relations, some suspicions or some concerns that are created artificially. I could say that presidents, during their meeting in Los Cabos last year and during the meeting on the margins of other multilateral fora, always emphasize the intention to continue cooperation in the internationalarena.

Now, on the bilateral level, yes, we have joint goals to achieve peaceful settlements to make Syria circular and peaceful, where all ethnic groups of – all religious groups have their rights, but we have differences in the understanding of methods. But here in solving the problem of the chemical weapons in Syria, we found common grounds. And we should do the same in all the issues on – as far as on Monday in Vienna, the General Conference of the IAEA will start, and a very important agreement will be signed during this conference related to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It is very important, from the point of view of its obligation, and we have several more agreements that are also important, including the agreement on drug trafficking control, and we have created the hotline between the security councils of our countries on the issue of cyber security, information security, and by the visit, expected visit, of President Obama.

We have the statements of presidents ready on the talks that we have been – the economic area cooperation, and on the long-term development of U.S.-Russia relations. This visit was cancelled, but I’m sure that the fact that the negotiators laid the correct foundation of this work – this will not disappear. And next time, during next meeting of the President – and perhaps it will be in Russia – these documents and other documents that we able to agree on will be signed. Thank you.

SECRETARY KERRY: (Inaudible), you could be a senator. (Laughter.) Anyway, do we have any more? Are we finished? We’re finished.

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