WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) today released the following statement after United Nations (UN) officials announced that Syria is seeking new delays in requirements to destroy its chemical weapons stockpiles by mid-2014:

“Syria’s negligible progress and unmet deadlines around dismantling their chemical weapons stockpiles only reaffirms my view that, once crossed, red lines must be enforced or our nation’s credibility on the international stage will be eroded. Last year, I was a vocal proponent of limited military engagement in Syria to ensure the destruction of these evil weapons, while being highly skeptical of Assad’s commitment to disarm peacefully. However, the Obama Administration delayed action until Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a politically palatable way forward, despite recognizing the incredible leverage that Mr. Putin would inevitably gain through the process.”

“I have said it before, and I will say it again: when America refuses to take a leadership role in the world, something else will fill that void. In Syria, it was Russia. Next time it could be China. Simply put, it has never been more important for the United States to show our allies that we are willing to lead, and show our enemies that we will not yield to their blustering nor accept their excuses. The outcome in Syria was wholly predictable, and we should heed this lesson as we further engage around the world.”

Under a UN Security Council resolution passed last September, Syria is required to destroy all its chemical weapons by mid-2014, meeting specific benchmarks along the way. On February 6, Syria missed its first deadline to have exported its entire 1,200-ton chemical weapons stockpile out of the country. The government claims it cannot do so due to security concerns.

In addition, under the resolution, Syria is to have destroyed its twelve chemical weapons-producing facilities by March 15, a requirement that observers and the Syrian government say also will be missed. The new request for delay would push back further the original June 30 deadline for the complete removal and destruction of all of Syria’s chemical weapon capabilities.

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