Washington, DC – Congressman Howard L. Berman, Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement applauding President Obama’s decision to impose sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad and six senior Syrian officials.

“I applaud President Obama’s decision to impose sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad and six senior Syrian officials for their roles in perpetrating horrific human rights abuses against the Syrian people.

“It is now crystal clear that the Assad regime – through its murderous crackdown on unarmed civilians – has relinquished any legitimacy it may have enjoyed among the Syrian people.

“The Syrian people have every right to chose a new elected leadership, and end the autocratic reign of the Assad regime.

“The Unites States is now making clear to Syria that our sympathies and our shared visions are with the victims, not the victimizers.”