Washington, DC – U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement on the draft resolution in the U.N. Security Council regarding Syria’s chemical weapons program.
“The progress in New York regarding Syria's chemical weapons is a positive development, but there are serious questions that remain about Assad's commitment to this process. We will see over the coming weeks and months whether Syria fully cooperates with international efforts to destroy its chemical weapons program – and whether Russia is serious about compelling them to do so. The potential for the use of force must remain on the table to ensure the elimination of all of Syria's chemical weapons and production facilities.
“But we must also not lose sight of the bigger challenge that the ongoing crisis in Syria presents: The barbarism and wanton violence of the Assad regime must come to an end. The instability caused by the Assad regime within the country and throughout the region poses a threat to US interests and regional security, stability, and prosperity. The United States must redouble our efforts to change Assad’s calculus and create the conditions for a negotiated solution and Assad’s departure.”
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