The prime minister says the G20 discussion in Russia on Syria was “extremely frank but respectful”. At the end, Canada signed a joint statement with nine other countries declaring the regime of Bashar Assad responsible for the chemical weapons strike against civilians last month in a Damascus. The countries signing the statement with the U.S. were Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. “The world cannot wait for endless failed processes that can only lead to increased suffering in Syria and regional instability,” says the statement. Mr Harper also offered a tough verdict on Russian leader Valdimr Putin: “I think…we are simply not prepared to accept the idea that there is a Russian veto over all of our actions.” In all of this Canada has been a reluctant convert to the idea of taking action against the Assad. The PM has said that his decision to add this country’s name to the statement is about the precedent set by the use of chemical weapons without a response to make clear the world’s disapproval.