Obama applauds UN deal on Syria’s chemical weapons

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says a deal reached on a United Nations resolution to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons is “potentially a huge victory for the international community.” The draft resolution’s demands that Syria abandon its chemical stockpile and allow unfettered access to chemical weapons experts are legally binding. But if Syria fails to comply, the council will need to adopt a second resolution to impose consequences. Obama said during an Oval Office meeting with India’s prime minister that he is “very hopeful for the prospects of what can be accomplished.” He applauded a framework that is legally binding, verifiable and enforceable. And he argued his threat of military strikes was crucial to reaching the agreement, but he always preferred a diplomatic solution.