"I applaud the progress made toward an agreement by the United States and Russia to place Syria's chemical weapons under international control so they can ultimately be destroyed. The deal represents an opportunity to ensure that Assad can no longer use chemical weapons against the Syrian people, while avoiding a potentially dangerous military confrontation.

"Enforcement will be difficult, and Assad must be replaced by a government that has the support of the Syrian people, but if this deal can be carried out successfully, it will reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction, an outcome we can all applaud."