CONDEMNING CHINESE AND RUSSIAN SUPPORT FOR THE SYRIAN REGIME; Congressional Record Vol. 158, No. 19

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CONDEMNING CHINESE AND RUSSIAN SUPPORT FOR THE SYRIAN REGIME

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HON. GARY C. PETERS

of michigan

in the house of representatives

Monday, February 6, 2012

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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