Tim Kaine on chance for diplomacy in Syria crisis

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, released the following statement today on the proposal that Syria place its chemical weapons under international control and abide by the terms of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention.“I’m pleased that the President’s decision to seek congressional authorization for a military strike in Syria – and a subsequent vote in the Foreign Relations Committee in support of military action if diplomatic options are exhausted – has motivated Assad to consider relinquishing his chemical weapons stockpile to international control. A diplomatic solution continues to be the best possible outcome in Syria, and the limited authorization I voted for last week includes a requirement that the U.S. must first exhaust all diplomatic options before commencing a military strike. We must therefore carefully examine this and any other credible offer presented by the Russians and Syrians, as well as strongly support efforts currently taking place in the United Nations Security Council. But make no mistake, if not for the American pressure on the Assad regime, we would not be having the diplomatic discussions we are today. I commend the President for his resolve and urge my colleagues to support continued efforts to create such diplomatic opportunities.”