Condemning Chinese and Russian Support for the Syrian Regime

Floor Speech

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the Chinese and Russian actions on Saturday, February 4, 2012, that blocked the United Nations Security Council from endorsing the Arab League's plan for a cessation of violence and political transition in Syria.

The United States joined with people of many faiths from countries around the world to ask the Security Council to hold Syria accountable for the bloodshed it has already committed, and continues to commit, against its own people.

Unfortunately, the Chinese and Russian governments appear to place more value on weapons sales to President al-Assad's bloody regime than the lives and freedoms of the people of Syria, and together they vetoed a resolution that would have committed the international community to putting an end to the violence.

Since the beginning of the uprising, I have called on President Obama and Secretary Clinton to hold the al-Assad regime accountable for its despicable actions and to speak up for the rights of the Syrian people who are dying for expressing their own independent political voice.

It is not too late for President Bashar al-Assad to do the right thing--step down--for his sake and the sake of the Syrian people.

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