From VOA Learning English,this is In the News.What seemed like an unplanned commentabout Syria's chemical weaponshad a major effect on world events this week.American Secretary of State John Kerryspoke last Monday at a press conference in London.He was reacting to questionsabout possible American actionto answer a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria.One reporter asked the secretarywhether there is anything Syria's president can doto avoid an American military strike."Sure, he can turn overevery single bit of his chemical weaponsto the international community in the next week."Mr. Kerry made clear he was speaking theoretically,and did not expect anything like that to happen."But he is not about to do that,cannot be done, obviously."But Russia seized on the ideaand persuaded Syria to do the same.That brought plans for American congressional voteson military action to a halt.It also led France to suggest a United NationsSecurity Council resolution on chemical weapons in Syria.President Obama has saidhe would accept a diplomatic solutionif it can be carried out.But that would likely take weeks, at least.Some officials in the United States and overseas are concerned.They fear that Syria and Russia will use Mr. Kerry's commentto direct attention away from the reported chemical attackand to avoid American action.Mr. Obama has said the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assadmust be punished for violating the nearly century old banon the use of chemical weapons.He called for American action to preventfuture use of chemical weapons in Syria.He proposed limited airstrikes on government targets.The airstrikes could happen quickly if Congress approves.Joanna Kidd is a security expert with London's King's College.She says any move to place Syria's chemical weaponsunder international control would take a long time,if it could be done at all."It is a job that would take several months to do.And, of course, one should not forget that obviouslythere is a civil war going on in Syria,which would greatly complicate the process."The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weaponscould provide inspectors to document controlson Syria's chemical weapons.But experts say there may not be enough inspectorsto cover all of Syria.And they say the organization may not be willingto send them into the middle of the civil war.Late this week, the Syrian government took its first steptoward joining the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention.The convention bans the development,production and use of chemical weapons.Until now, only seven countries, including Syria,have failed to approve the treaty.Mr. Assad says his country is now ready to give its approval.But he says Syria cannot be "brought to the final stage"while it is under the threat of an American missile strike.In a related development, Secretary Kerryand Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Geneva.Mr. Kerry said they held what he called "constructive" talkson ending Syria's chemical weapons program.He said they also agreed to do "homework" as part of an effortto get Syria's warring sides to a conference on a temporary government.And that's In the News from VOA Learning English.更多听力请访问51voa.com