Obama, Abbott discuss 'grave concern' over chemical weapons use in Syria

President Barack Obama called Australian Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott on Wednesday night to congratulate him and the Opposition Coalition for his success in the Australia federal election on Saturday, the White House announced on Thursday. The two expressed their "grave concern" about the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government, and the viability of the Russian proposal to put all Syrian chemical weapons and related materials fully under international control in order to ensure their verifiable and enforceable destruction, the statement said. They also discussed ways to further strengthen the U.S.-Australia alliance, including by implementing fully the force posture initiatives announced by the United States and Australia in November 2011, it said. They also discussed the importance of concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations this year, it said. Obama also called outgoing Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and thanked him for "his friendship, leadership and unflinching support of the U.S. -Australia relationship, as well as for his strong position on the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons on August 21," the White House said.