Russia hopes that the Syrian authorities and the UN will agree on international inspections to look into the possible use of chemical weapons in the country's civil war, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday, May 17, according to RIA Novosti.

“As far we know, the Syrian government… has expressed readiness - after that place near Aleppo is inspected - to consider requests for inspections in other parts [of the country] as well,” he said after a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

“We hope that agreements will be reached between the UN Secretariat and the Syrian government. We are doing all we can to facilitate that.”

Ban Ki-moon said the UN is urging Syria to allow experts into the country to investigate possible use of chemical weapons.