DHAKA: The European Union hailed a UN resolution on the eradication of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal as ‘setting a standard’ for the global response to the threats of weapons of mass destruction.

The UN Security Council on Friday night unanimously passed a draft resolution on eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons with a vote of 15-0.

‘This decision should pave the way to the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria, and set a standard for the international community in responding to threats posed by weapons of mass destruction,’ media quoted EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton as saying in a statement late Friday.

The text of the resolution signified ‘a major step towards a sustainable and unified international response to the crisis in Syria’, Ashton said in a statement.

She added that the EU would implement ‘forceful’ support in the event of Syrian non-compliance, reports The Jerusalem Post.

BDST: 1811 HRS, SEPT 28, 2013
RoR/RIS