New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says the Syrian government had little choice but to agree to a United Nations resolution ordering the destruction of its chemical weapons.
Mr Key is back from the UN headquarters in New York.
President Bashar al Assad of Syria has told an Italian TV station he will respect a UN resolution to destroy his chemical weapons by mid 2014.
Mr Key told Morning Report Mr Assad clearly realised other nations would probably act against him if he didn't comply.
Mr Key says the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will need support to oversee the disarmament and New Zealand is contributing about $650,000.
