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Today's Zaman, Turkey
April 6 2014
Syrian Armenians from Kessab continue to flee to Turkey
6 April 2014, Sunday /Ä°STANBUL, TODAY'S ZAMAN
A group of Syrian Armenians entered Turkey on Saturday from Syria's
northwestern town of Kessab, just across from YayladaÄ?ı in the
southern Turkish province of Hatay, accompanied by Syrian rebel
forces.
According to the private DoÄ?an news agency, 18 Syrian Armenians were
brought to the YayladaÄ?ı border gate by members of the Free Syrian
Army (FSA). The Syrian Armenians were reportedly welcomed by Turkish
officials, including the district governor, the chief of the YayladaÄ?ı
Police Department and border officers.
The Syrian Armenians living in Kessab had reportedly asked the
Western-backed FSA fighters to help them cross over into Turkey. After
the rebels escorted them to the border crossing and some necessary
paperwork was done, the Kessab Armenians were brought to a teachers'
lodge in YayladaÄ?ı. YayladaÄ?ı District Governor Turan Yılmaz is
reported to have been personally involved in meeting the Syrian
Armenians' needs.
The clashes around Kessab have been ongoing for more than 10 days
according to Turkish media. The Syrian Armenians decided to flee the
fighting between rebels and forces loyal to the Syrian regime near
Kessab.
Two Armenian sisters from Kessab, Satenik (82) and Surpuhi (80)
Titizyan also arrived in YayladaÄ?ı last week after being escorted by
Syrian rebels to the Turkish-Syrian border.
Most of the Armenian residents of Kessab fled after the clashes began.
Fighters from an array of rebel groups, including the al-Qaeda-linked
al-Nusra Front -- designated as a terrorist group by the US -- then
seized control of the town on March 16. After rebels seized the Kessab
crossing point, the fighting continued in other towns that are not on
the border with Turkey, mainly in Latakia province.
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu said Turkey's doors are `wide open'
to the largely Armenian residents of Kessab. His remarks came after
the Syrian government, as well as several Armenian websites, had
claimed the rebels entered Syria from Turkey. In a strongly worded
statement released on March 24, the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) quoted its chairman, Ken Hachikian, as saying, "The
attacks on the predominantly Armenian-populated village of Kessab over
the weekend represent an attack on all Armenians.' ANCA asked the US
Congress and the White House to put pressure on Turkey to end its
alleged support for Syrian rebels.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on March 26 that the claims of
alleged Turkish support for Syrian opposition forces in Kessab by
allowing them to use Turkish territory or in any other manner were
`entirely baseless.'
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-343951-syrian-armenians-from-kessab-continue-to-flee-to-turkey.html
April 6 2014
Syrian Armenians from Kessab continue to flee to Turkey
6 April 2014, Sunday /Ä°STANBUL, TODAY'S ZAMAN
A group of Syrian Armenians entered Turkey on Saturday from Syria's
northwestern town of Kessab, just across from YayladaÄ?ı in the
southern Turkish province of Hatay, accompanied by Syrian rebel
forces.
According to the private DoÄ?an news agency, 18 Syrian Armenians were
brought to the YayladaÄ?ı border gate by members of the Free Syrian
Army (FSA). The Syrian Armenians were reportedly welcomed by Turkish
officials, including the district governor, the chief of the YayladaÄ?ı
Police Department and border officers.
The Syrian Armenians living in Kessab had reportedly asked the
Western-backed FSA fighters to help them cross over into Turkey. After
the rebels escorted them to the border crossing and some necessary
paperwork was done, the Kessab Armenians were brought to a teachers'
lodge in YayladaÄ?ı. YayladaÄ?ı District Governor Turan Yılmaz is
reported to have been personally involved in meeting the Syrian
Armenians' needs.
The clashes around Kessab have been ongoing for more than 10 days
according to Turkish media. The Syrian Armenians decided to flee the
fighting between rebels and forces loyal to the Syrian regime near
Kessab.
Two Armenian sisters from Kessab, Satenik (82) and Surpuhi (80)
Titizyan also arrived in YayladaÄ?ı last week after being escorted by
Syrian rebels to the Turkish-Syrian border.
Most of the Armenian residents of Kessab fled after the clashes began.
Fighters from an array of rebel groups, including the al-Qaeda-linked
al-Nusra Front -- designated as a terrorist group by the US -- then
seized control of the town on March 16. After rebels seized the Kessab
crossing point, the fighting continued in other towns that are not on
the border with Turkey, mainly in Latakia province.
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu said Turkey's doors are `wide open'
to the largely Armenian residents of Kessab. His remarks came after
the Syrian government, as well as several Armenian websites, had
claimed the rebels entered Syria from Turkey. In a strongly worded
statement released on March 24, the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) quoted its chairman, Ken Hachikian, as saying, "The
attacks on the predominantly Armenian-populated village of Kessab over
the weekend represent an attack on all Armenians.' ANCA asked the US
Congress and the White House to put pressure on Turkey to end its
alleged support for Syrian rebels.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on March 26 that the claims of
alleged Turkish support for Syrian opposition forces in Kessab by
allowing them to use Turkish territory or in any other manner were
`entirely baseless.'
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-343951-syrian-armenians-from-kessab-continue-to-flee-to-turkey.html