US blames Syrian gov’t for slow progress in removing chemical weapons

The U.S. on Thursday blamed the Syrian government for slow progress in removing its stockpiled chemical weapons, urging Damascus to take “necessary steps” to expedite the process.

State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki expressed “deep concern” about Syria’s failure to move all of its chemical agents, as mandated by U.N. Security Council resolution 2118, to its port of Lattakia for being transported to a ship in the sea for destruction.

“There should be no doubt that the responsibility for the lack of progress and increasing costs rest solely with Syria,” she told reporters.