Syria Crisis: U.S. President Barack Obama arrived today in Sweden as part of his European tour, prior to the Group of 20 (G-20) summit in St. Petersburg and pending an imminent military attack against Syria. Obama met with the head of Government of that Nordic country, Fredrik Reinfeldt, and the two leaders gave a press conference regarding bilateral cooperation, according to media reports.
Reinfeldt invited the U.S. president to dine with his Finnish peer Sauli Niinisto and the Prime Ministers of Norway, Denmark and Iceland, Jens Stoltenberg, Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, respectively.
Obama’s tour is seen as an attempt to gain international support for the war he is fostering against Damascus.
The White House head was welcomed by U.S. Ambassador to Stockholm Mark Brzezinski and several members of the Swedish Executive branch, including Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Vice Prime Minister Jan Bjorklund.
Regarding inclusion of the Syrian conflict among the issues to be discussed by the presidents, Bildt expressed the need for the UN Security Council to unite on the issue.
Sweden, along with other European nations, is awaiting consensus at that important U.N. authority before endorsing force in the Middle Eastern country, a possibility that is rejected by Russia and China.
After the press conference, Obama will pay homage to Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who helped thousands of Hungarian Jews escape during the German fascist regime.
He will also visit the Royal Technology Institute to talk to the students there about Swedish innovations in the area of green energy and environmental protection.
Syria is facing the threat of a military attack threatened in recent days by countries like the United Kingdom and France, incited by the United States on the pretext of an alleged use of chemical weapons by the Government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, Al-Assad has presented signs that the rebels fighting in Syria are the ones who have used those kinds of weapons against the people.
Nevertheless, Obama stated on Saturday that his country is maintaining an active plan for a possible attack, and called on the US Congress to take a stand on the issue.
Pope Francis Calls for Peace in Syria and Worldwide
Syria Crisis: Pope Francis renewed the call for worldwide peace and repeated the call for a day of fasting and prayer scheduled for next Saturday, aimed at mobilizing forces against the war in Syria.
In a general audience at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican the Holy Pontiff urged that a cry for peace be raised worldwide.
He added that September 7 is a special worldwide day of fasting and prayer for peace in the Middle East, as well as in the hearts of people, where peace truly begins.
Francis invited Catholics and non-Catholics alike to join the initiative and thanked those who have already expressed their willingness to participate.
In this sense, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, reported that Episcopal Conferences in different countries have been contacted to participate in the special day called by the Pope.
Putin Calls Chemical Weapons Allegations Against Syrian Army Absurd
Syria Crisis: Russian President Vladimir Putin today reiterated in a state television interview that he considers the charge that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attacked his own people with chemical weapons ludicrous, just as the Syrian Army is achieving victories and there is full awareness that using such weapons could lead to sanctions and even an aggression.
In an interview with Russia’s state Channel 1 television, Putin said that Moscow could only be convinced of the charge by an extensive and specific probe containing obvious evidence that proves beyond any doubt who used the weapons and how.
The Russian President reiterated his doubts in relation to the U.S. allegations to justify an imminent aggression against Damascus.
“If it is proven that the rebels used chemical weapons, what will the U.S. do with them? What will their sponsors do? Will they stop supplying them with weapons? Will they launch military operations against them?” asked Putin.
The Russian president urged Washington and its allies to avoid engaging in unilateral actions against Syria because there is no exact data yet regarding the use of chemical weapons.
It is essential to wait for the results of the investigations carried out by the team of U.N. experts, stressed the president.
Putin acknowledged that he could accept the U.S. military operation if there were irrefutable evidence that Damascus used the forbidden weapons.
However, Putin noted that according to current international law, only the U.N. Security Council can authorize a military action against a sovereign state.
Via PL