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ANKARA COOPERATES WITH PATRIARCHATE TO HELP KESSAB ARMENIANS
Today's Zaman (Turkey)
April 7, 2014 Monday
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has stated that Ankara is cooperating with
the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey over a group of Syrian Armenians
who have entered Turkey after fleeing from Syria's northwestern town
of Kessab, just across the border from Yayladagi in the southern
Turkish province of Hatay.
A total of 18 Syrian Armenians were brought to the Yayladagi 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 Yayladagi Police Department and border
officers.
"Having closely followed the situation in Kessab since the very
beginning, Turkey has taken all necessary measures to protect civilians
and has kept the United Nations informed about its efforts.
In order to make the Armenians from Kessab who have arrived in Turkey
comfortable, since the beginning of the situation Turkey has cooperated
with the Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian community in Turkey,"
the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Sunday.
The statement continued: "Since the beginning of last week, in addition
to previous refugees, 18 more Syrian Armenians have entered Turkey
through the Yayladagi border gate under the auspices of the local
authorities and with the cooperation of the Armenian Patriarchate." The
refugees have been accommodated in the village of Vakifli in the
Samandagi district of Hatay, said the statement. The Syrian Armenians
living in Kessab had reportedly asked the Western-backed FSA fighters
to help them cross over into Turkey.
Yayladagi District Governor Turan Yilmaz 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 near Kessab between rebels and forces loyal to the
Syrian regime.
Two Armenian sisters from Kessab, Satenik (82) and Surpuhi (80)
Titizyan, were among those who arrived in Yayladagi last week after
being escorted by the Syrian rebel group to the border.
Most of the Armenian residents of Kessab fled when militants from an
array of rebel groups, including the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front --
designated as a terrorist group by the US -- seized control of the
town on March 16. After the rebels seized the Kessab crossing point,
fighting continued in other towns that are not on the border with
Turkey, mainly in Latakia province.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that 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,
claimed that the rebels had entered Syria from Turkey.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on March 26 that the claim that
Turkey was supporting the Syrian opposition forces who had occupied
Kessab by allowing them to use Turkish territory or by providing
other logistical support was "entirely baseless."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Today's Zaman (Turkey)
April 7, 2014 Monday
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has stated that Ankara is cooperating with
the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey over a group of Syrian Armenians
who have entered Turkey after fleeing from Syria's northwestern town
of Kessab, just across the border from Yayladagi in the southern
Turkish province of Hatay.
A total of 18 Syrian Armenians were brought to the Yayladagi 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 Yayladagi Police Department and border
officers.
"Having closely followed the situation in Kessab since the very
beginning, Turkey has taken all necessary measures to protect civilians
and has kept the United Nations informed about its efforts.
In order to make the Armenians from Kessab who have arrived in Turkey
comfortable, since the beginning of the situation Turkey has cooperated
with the Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian community in Turkey,"
the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Sunday.
The statement continued: "Since the beginning of last week, in addition
to previous refugees, 18 more Syrian Armenians have entered Turkey
through the Yayladagi border gate under the auspices of the local
authorities and with the cooperation of the Armenian Patriarchate." The
refugees have been accommodated in the village of Vakifli in the
Samandagi district of Hatay, said the statement. The Syrian Armenians
living in Kessab had reportedly asked the Western-backed FSA fighters
to help them cross over into Turkey.
Yayladagi District Governor Turan Yilmaz 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 near Kessab between rebels and forces loyal to the
Syrian regime.
Two Armenian sisters from Kessab, Satenik (82) and Surpuhi (80)
Titizyan, were among those who arrived in Yayladagi last week after
being escorted by the Syrian rebel group to the border.
Most of the Armenian residents of Kessab fled when militants from an
array of rebel groups, including the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front --
designated as a terrorist group by the US -- seized control of the
town on March 16. After the rebels seized the Kessab crossing point,
fighting continued in other towns that are not on the border with
Turkey, mainly in Latakia province.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that 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,
claimed that the rebels had entered Syria from Turkey.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on March 26 that the claim that
Turkey was supporting the Syrian opposition forces who had occupied
Kessab by allowing them to use Turkish territory or by providing
other logistical support was "entirely baseless."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress