Here's the apparent source of the tweet:
The Syrian Foreign Ministry has welcomed Russia's call to hand control over its chemical weapons to the international community.
"Syria Arab Republic welcomes Russia's initiative, based on the Syrian's government care about the lives of our people and security of our country," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said in response to the statement by his Russian counterpart.
This was in response to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's call:
We are calling on the Syrian authorities not only agree on putting chemical weapons storages under international control, but also for its further destruction and then joining the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Here's another report:
21.15 pm: Syria says it accepts Russia's proposal.
Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moualem has said the country accepts Russia's proposal to put its chemical weapons under international control, Reuters reported.
In effect, this in a way could mean that Syria accepts it has chemical weapons. More details are awaited.
9:17 AM PT: Pressure building rapidly:
(CNN) -- Breaking news update at 11:46 a.m. Monday
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said Monday that he is considering urging the Security Council to demand the Syrian government immediately hand over its chemical weapons to be destroyed.
http://www.cnn.com/...
9:30 AM PT: ABC reports on the Syrian statement too:
Syria today "welcomed" an offer by Russia to put its chemical weapons arsenal under international control so that they could eventually be destroyed.
Syria's statement came very quickly after the proposal was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in what he said was an attempt to avoid a U.S.-led strike on Syria.
http://abcnews.go.com/...
9:57 AM PT: Heh.
Jeffrey Goldberg @JeffreyGoldberg
@joshtpm @chucktodd in exchange for the suspension of an unbelievably small attack he could give up an unbelievably small amount of sarin.
10:01 AM PT: More from CNN:
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem told reporters in Moscow on Monday that his nation "welcomes" a statement from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said his country would urge Syria to take that step if it would avert a U.S. military response.
"During our talks with Foreign Minister Lavrov this morning, he launched an initiative related to chemical weapons. I listened carefully to his statement this evening in regards to that. I declare that the Syrian Arab Republic welcomes Russia's initiative, on the basis that the Syrian leadership cares about the lives of our citizens and the security in our country. We are also confident in the wisdom of the Russian government, which is trying to prevent an American aggression against our people," Moallem said."
10:07 AM PT: Proposals flying fast and furious. From a NY Times blog:
The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, on Monday called for the creation of United Nations-supervised zones in Syria where the country’s chemical weapons can be destroyed.
Mr. Ban told reporters he may propose the zones to the United Nations Security Council in a bid to overcome the 15-nation Council’s “embarrassing paralysis” over the Syria conflict.
“I am considering urging the Security Council to demand the immediate transfer of Syria’s chemical weapons and chemical precursor stocks to places inside Syria where they can be safely stored and destroyed,” Mr. Ban said.
His announcement came after the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, urged Syria to place its chemical weapons under international supervision to head off the threat of a Western military strike.
Mr. Ban welcomed the Russian idea and said Syria should “agree to these proposals.” He added that there would be “very swift action” by the international community to make sure the stocks are destroyed.
But Mr. Ban warned, “First and foremost, Syria must agree positively to this.”