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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS ATTACK ON KESSAB AND OTHER VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
21:15 17.04.2014
European Parliament, Kessab, Syria
Today, the European Parliament in its last plenary session before
the May 2014 elections, adopted a resolution on Syria, expressing
its concern on the latest developments in the country, especially
with the situation in Kessab, and vulnerable communities who find
themselves in the middle of the war.
The resolution specifically condemns the attack against the Armenian
town of Kessab, and takes note that "the fights between regime forces
and rebel fighters, including elements linked to Al-Qaeda, at the
end of March 2014 led to the evacuation of the vast majority of the
population of Kassab, an Armenian town on the Syrian-Turkish border".
The resolution also takes note of the rich diversity of ethnic and
religious communities, stressing that these communities have always
been part of Syrian society, and have an important role to play in the
democratization of Syria and need to be represented in any consultation
on the country's future and in any reconciliation process; and that
these communities had tried to avoid taking sides in the conflict,
and as many may recognize the need for a change of regime in Syria,
but also fear that, if the government is overthrown, they will be
targeted by Sunni jihadist rebels calling for the establishment of
an Islamic state. The European Parliament is also worried with the
Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front capturing a number of Christian and
Kurdish villages on the Turkish border.
Bastiaan Belder (Europe of Freedom and Democracy, the Netherlands)
stressed that the resolution will not be full, unless it mentions the
whole truth about Kessab, about Turkish involvement once again, after
the Armenian Genocide, in depopulating the Armenians of the region;
MEP Belder also noted, that there must be an investigation on Turkey's
role in the attack against Kessab, which is a continuation of Ankara's
disastrous Middle East policy. Veronique De Keyser (Progressive
Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, vice-chair, Belgium) condemned
the depopulation of Armenians from Kessab by terrorist groups.
Joaquin Almunia, Vice-president of the EU Commission, is troubled
with the jihadist attack on Kessab and the extremely violent civil
war in Syria, stressing that the EU will be helping the vulnerable
groups and those displaced in the three years of the Syrian conflict.
Kaspar Karampetian, President of the European Armenian Federation
for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) stressed that the resolution has
been soft on Turkey, which opened its borders with Kessab assisting
the jihadists to attack the region, but nevertheless, puts the blame
on Turkey for the border attacks on Christian and Kurdish cities
and hindering humanitarian aid. "Turkey is guilty of assisting the
extremists in driving out the peaceful population at the border with
Syria", said Kaspar Karampetian.
"Armenians are thankful to the Syrian people for sheltering us after
the Genocide committed by Turkey 99 years ago, and we sympathize
them for the terrible violence in the country these days. We hope for
an end soon, and that all communities are part of Syria and must be
included in re-building the country with no outside interference", said
Karampetian, and concluded that the EAFJD is committed in assisting
the Armenian community of Syria with humanitarian aid from Europe.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/17/european-parliament-condemns-attack-on-kessab-and-other-vulnerable-communities/
21:15 17.04.2014
European Parliament, Kessab, Syria
Today, the European Parliament in its last plenary session before
the May 2014 elections, adopted a resolution on Syria, expressing
its concern on the latest developments in the country, especially
with the situation in Kessab, and vulnerable communities who find
themselves in the middle of the war.
The resolution specifically condemns the attack against the Armenian
town of Kessab, and takes note that "the fights between regime forces
and rebel fighters, including elements linked to Al-Qaeda, at the
end of March 2014 led to the evacuation of the vast majority of the
population of Kassab, an Armenian town on the Syrian-Turkish border".
The resolution also takes note of the rich diversity of ethnic and
religious communities, stressing that these communities have always
been part of Syrian society, and have an important role to play in the
democratization of Syria and need to be represented in any consultation
on the country's future and in any reconciliation process; and that
these communities had tried to avoid taking sides in the conflict,
and as many may recognize the need for a change of regime in Syria,
but also fear that, if the government is overthrown, they will be
targeted by Sunni jihadist rebels calling for the establishment of
an Islamic state. The European Parliament is also worried with the
Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front capturing a number of Christian and
Kurdish villages on the Turkish border.
Bastiaan Belder (Europe of Freedom and Democracy, the Netherlands)
stressed that the resolution will not be full, unless it mentions the
whole truth about Kessab, about Turkish involvement once again, after
the Armenian Genocide, in depopulating the Armenians of the region;
MEP Belder also noted, that there must be an investigation on Turkey's
role in the attack against Kessab, which is a continuation of Ankara's
disastrous Middle East policy. Veronique De Keyser (Progressive
Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, vice-chair, Belgium) condemned
the depopulation of Armenians from Kessab by terrorist groups.
Joaquin Almunia, Vice-president of the EU Commission, is troubled
with the jihadist attack on Kessab and the extremely violent civil
war in Syria, stressing that the EU will be helping the vulnerable
groups and those displaced in the three years of the Syrian conflict.
Kaspar Karampetian, President of the European Armenian Federation
for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) stressed that the resolution has
been soft on Turkey, which opened its borders with Kessab assisting
the jihadists to attack the region, but nevertheless, puts the blame
on Turkey for the border attacks on Christian and Kurdish cities
and hindering humanitarian aid. "Turkey is guilty of assisting the
extremists in driving out the peaceful population at the border with
Syria", said Kaspar Karampetian.
"Armenians are thankful to the Syrian people for sheltering us after
the Genocide committed by Turkey 99 years ago, and we sympathize
them for the terrible violence in the country these days. We hope for
an end soon, and that all communities are part of Syria and must be
included in re-building the country with no outside interference", said
Karampetian, and concluded that the EAFJD is committed in assisting
the Armenian community of Syria with humanitarian aid from Europe.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/17/european-parliament-condemns-attack-on-kessab-and-other-vulnerable-communities/