Ros-Lehtinen: As Syria Jails Dissidents, U.S. Seeks Thaw?

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on reports that Syrian authorities imprisoned a dissident for criticizing the political system. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

"The Syrian regime is not only a threat to regional peace and stability and to U.S. national security interests, but is a threat to its own people. Why would the U.S. seek to reward such behavior?

"We must not ignore the plight of those fighting for human rights in Syria.

"Jailing political dissidents is just the latest similarity between Syria and Iran. Syria also pursues illicit nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, supports violent Islamist groups, facilitates the entrance of militants into Iraq, and undermines the sovereignty of neighboring states.

"We should not unilaterally seek a thaw in U.S.-Syrian relations without first asking for specific pre-requisites to be met. To do so shows weakness on these issues and could have very serious consequences for the welfare of the Syrian people, our allies in the region, and our nation's interests."

Note: Ros-Lehtinen is the author of the Syria Accountability and Liberation Act (H.R. 1206), which aims at compelling the Syrian regime to abandon its destructive policies while supporting the growth of independent civil society in Syria. The bill enjoys the support of over 50 co-sponsors.

Background: On Sunday, a Syrian court sentenced Habib Saleh to three years in prison on charges of "weakening national feelings." Saleh's lawyers said that "Punishments are becoming harsher ... we are not seeing even a trace of mercy being applied in human rights cases."

http://foreignaffairs.republicans.house.gov

SOURCE House Committee on Foreign Affairs (Republican Office)