Canada supports a political solution to Syria's conflicts and destruction of its chemical weapons, said Foreign Minister John Baird on Tuesday.

"As we've said from the beginning, the only way to halt the bloodshed in Syria is through a political solution," said Baird in a statement hours before U.S. President Barack Obama is set to make a televised address.

Baird noted that Canada supported efforts being undertaken by the United States and other countries to reinforce the prohibition of the use of chemical weapons.

"Destroying these chemical weapons which the regime has denied even having for years, would be in the best interests of the entire region and all Syrians."

He also admitted that it was not an easy job to secure and destroy the entirety of the Syrian government's stockpiles of chemical weapons immediately.

Baird promised that Canada would continue to follow events at the UN Security Council closely and work with international partners on the Syrian issue.

On Aug. 29, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada had no plans for a military mission of its own in Syria, although the government supported its allies and had been convinced of the need for "forceful action."

Harper admitted that the risk of chemical weapons being more widely used was too great.

Canada has so far resisted any military assistance to the Syrian rebels or the prospect of partaking in military strikes.

Syria agreed Tuesday to a Russian call for international oversight of its chemical weapons stockpiles and signaled that it was willing to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention.

On Aug. 21, the Syrian opposition claimed that government forces used chemical weapons in an attack near Damascus, which killed about 1,300 people. The Syrian government has denied the accusation. Endi

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