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Armenian expert in Turkish affairs accuses West of inaction over
Kessab Armenians
YEREVAN, April 3. / ARKA /. An Armenian expert in Turkish affairs has
condemned today Western powers for their failure to respond adequately
to massive violation of rights of ethnic Armenian population of
Kessab, a small town in northwestern Syria bordering Turkey, saying
their passive stance is reminiscent of the 1915 genocide of Armenians
committed by the government of the Ottoman Turkey.
Speaking at a news conference, Ruben Melkonyan, deputy dean of
Oriental Studies department at Yerevan State University, said it is
obvious that the Armenian community of Kessab is set to disappear.
"The fact is that the homes of Armenians were looted, the population
was made to flee. These are the crimes that make a genocide," said
Mekonyan.
Kessab, which is home to over 2,000 ethnic Armenians is located in
Syria's Latakia province, just miles away from Turkey. On March 21,
extremist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda crossed into Syria from
Turkey with the blessing of its authorities and seized the town after
clashes with Syrian government troops.
According to Melkonyan , the Armenian community of Kessab will hardly revive.
"Armenia is deeply concerned over the recent events in ancient town of
Kessab and 12 villages with prevailing Armenian population. All
evidence available and location of the town lead to a conclusion the
recent attacks were made by terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda that
crossed the border from the territory of Turkey," Armenian foreign
minister Edward Nalbandian says in a letter sent to UN secretary
general Ban Ki-Moon.
'The extremist groups desecrated Armenian churches of Kessab and
caused damage to property of local population having left a dismal
picture of egregious human rights violations. Only a couple of aged
people remained being unable to leave the town. These tragic events
jeopardize implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 2139 and
2118 aimed at settlement of the Syrian crisis," says the letter. -0-
- See more at: http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenian_expert_in_turkish_affairs_accuses_west_of _inaction_over_kessab_armenians_/#sthash.NQc6Ghct.dpuf
Kessab Armenians
YEREVAN, April 3. / ARKA /. An Armenian expert in Turkish affairs has
condemned today Western powers for their failure to respond adequately
to massive violation of rights of ethnic Armenian population of
Kessab, a small town in northwestern Syria bordering Turkey, saying
their passive stance is reminiscent of the 1915 genocide of Armenians
committed by the government of the Ottoman Turkey.
Speaking at a news conference, Ruben Melkonyan, deputy dean of
Oriental Studies department at Yerevan State University, said it is
obvious that the Armenian community of Kessab is set to disappear.
"The fact is that the homes of Armenians were looted, the population
was made to flee. These are the crimes that make a genocide," said
Mekonyan.
Kessab, which is home to over 2,000 ethnic Armenians is located in
Syria's Latakia province, just miles away from Turkey. On March 21,
extremist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda crossed into Syria from
Turkey with the blessing of its authorities and seized the town after
clashes with Syrian government troops.
According to Melkonyan , the Armenian community of Kessab will hardly revive.
"Armenia is deeply concerned over the recent events in ancient town of
Kessab and 12 villages with prevailing Armenian population. All
evidence available and location of the town lead to a conclusion the
recent attacks were made by terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda that
crossed the border from the territory of Turkey," Armenian foreign
minister Edward Nalbandian says in a letter sent to UN secretary
general Ban Ki-Moon.
'The extremist groups desecrated Armenian churches of Kessab and
caused damage to property of local population having left a dismal
picture of egregious human rights violations. Only a couple of aged
people remained being unable to leave the town. These tragic events
jeopardize implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 2139 and
2118 aimed at settlement of the Syrian crisis," says the letter. -0-
- See more at: http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenian_expert_in_turkish_affairs_accuses_west_of _inaction_over_kessab_armenians_/#sthash.NQc6Ghct.dpuf