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I'VE SEEN TURKISH PASSPORTS OF KILLED MILITANTS
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - Friday, 18 April 2014, 14:57
Interview with Toros Sefilian, Armenian Lebanese, member of Armenian
Renaissance, who visited Latakia and met with Armenians of Kessab
Mr. Sefilian, you have just returned from Syria where you met with
Armenians of Kessab. How are they getting on?
First, I would like to note that our authorities, and earlier our
traditional parties frightened the people of Armenia and Diaspora,
exaggerated the situation. The reality is different. They have
designated a working group representing all the traditional parties,
including religious communities. As a representative of the Armenian
Renaissance Organization, I said that we are concerned about the
situation and the right thing to us is to be present in Syria and
learn about the situation on the spot, not through the mass media. We
are all very sensitive about what is happening in Kessab because
Kessab is historically very important to us as Kessab is the last
town of Cilicia. Perhaps many people don't know that in 1939 thanks
to Cardinal Aghajanyan and upon international consent Kessab passed
under the Syrian authorities. Otherwise, it would have been Turkish
territory, like Mount Musa. We must have a special tactics, focus
on diplomacy and voice practical issues internationally. We must
not apologize. Unfortunately, however, we are fighting each other,
whether in or outside Armenia. If we take some food and clothes to
our compatriots in Kessab, we haven't done something big. Let's not
think that now we can go to bed quietly, thinking that we have done
a great job.
Mr. Sefilian, what should have been done for the Armenians of Kessab
that has not been done?
We must not be limited to sending a little food and clothes. We must
be working towards this direction 24 hours a day and decide what
should be done rather than have the majority frighten people with a
statement to not listen to the opinion of minorities. Don't think that
minorities will not move on to real action at some point. I would like
our government, as well as the traditional parties, to be more aware
and alert. As soon as one person visits the Armenians of Kessab, they
are encourages very fast, they are touched, thinking that people are
interested in them, whether an administrative delegation of Armenia
or other organizations.
How many Armenians are still living in the church?
I have found out that 130 people are left in the church. The others
have been put up by their friends and relatives in Latakia, some
of them are already in Beirut, others are in Aleppo. The Armenians
of Kessab have scattered, 130 people are left. I asked them whether
they will leave Kessab if such an opportunity comes up. A few days
after the developments in Kessab Hovik Abrahamyan announced that
Armenia will welcome the people of Kessab. I found out that the
people and authorities of Kessab are against leaving Kessab. It is
highly important to me that the people will not leave their town,
which is a final decision. Yes, they have scattered now but everyone
hopes and believes that they will return. However, they say they are
unable to liberate Kessab by themselves. They hope their state will
do it, and they will return to their homes.
In your opinion, will it be possible to return to Kessab?
It depends on the government of Syria which must liberate Kessab. I
went to the positions in some places and saw there 7 or 8 men of
Kessab, aged between 28 and 45, who did not go to Latakia like others
but found guns and joined the army of liberation of Kessab and are
defending their homes. I have talked to them, and it is upsetting
that even the Armenian leaders in Latakia are not aware of these
guys. One of them pointed at a house in about 25 meters and said it
is their house. "I will not leave this place and I don't care what
the leaders of the community have decided."
Hayastan Pan-Armenian Fund provided some financial assistance to
the people of Kessab. In your opinion, was it enough to resolve the
problems of Kessab people?
Only the first three days were difficult for the people of Kessab
when there were serious problems with organizing distribution of
food three times a day and clothes. Today I saw there is a lot of
food and clothes. Even the Syrian government takes care of them.
We at Renaissance have decided to raise funds and direct other
fundraisers to think about what we are going to do after return to
Kessab. A lot of houses have been ruined that must be reconstructed.
The people of Kessab do not worry much about destruction of their
houses as much as about their fruit orchards which are their source
of income.
What way out do you see in this situation?
I can say it should not be left like this. What happened does not mean
that we have already lost and should focus on evacuating people. On
the contrary, we must do everything to return Kessab. What happened
there was a political decision and it was not accidental that it
happens ahead of the 100th anniversary of the genocide. I've even
seen Turkish documents, passports that had been taken from killed
militants. It means that Turks participated in the offensive on Kessab
dressed as mercenary militants. Not only did Turkey open its border
for the militants but also its citizens participated in those actions.
What happened was betrayal and deception. You know that Syria has been
at war for 3 years but there were not many troops in the northwest of
the country. The point is that an international agreement was signed
in 1938 which allowed Syrians not to worry about those positions. In
fact, Turkey has violated the agreement, and thousands of militants
penetrated to Syria from that area. I've heard their number was
20,000-22,000. In the beginning we were told about 5000-6000 militants
but their number gradually rose to 20,000-22,000. It is clear that
Turkey will not claim responsible but everyone knows who backs
all this.
Turkey was said to provide refugee Armenians of Kessab with everything,
even houses.
I have learned that the Turkish government took special care of the
two women, the Titizian sisters who left for Turkey, to demonstrate to
the world how thoughtful they are. Like all the Armenians of Kessab,
Titizian sisters were to leave for Latakia but Turkey did everything
to take them to Mount Musa to use it for publicity.
I'd like to repeat that there is a lot to do, it is going to be
difficult but not impossible. We must do everything to make sure
that we return to Kessab and win a diplomatic victory. We are tired
of hearing that we have no diplomacy and we have always lost.
Unfortunately, all we are doing is fighting each other, we do not
tolerate each other, whereas we should come together and think about
how to face up to these challenges.
- See more at:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/32296#sthash.xFESkGkV.dpuf
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - Friday, 18 April 2014, 14:57
Interview with Toros Sefilian, Armenian Lebanese, member of Armenian
Renaissance, who visited Latakia and met with Armenians of Kessab
Mr. Sefilian, you have just returned from Syria where you met with
Armenians of Kessab. How are they getting on?
First, I would like to note that our authorities, and earlier our
traditional parties frightened the people of Armenia and Diaspora,
exaggerated the situation. The reality is different. They have
designated a working group representing all the traditional parties,
including religious communities. As a representative of the Armenian
Renaissance Organization, I said that we are concerned about the
situation and the right thing to us is to be present in Syria and
learn about the situation on the spot, not through the mass media. We
are all very sensitive about what is happening in Kessab because
Kessab is historically very important to us as Kessab is the last
town of Cilicia. Perhaps many people don't know that in 1939 thanks
to Cardinal Aghajanyan and upon international consent Kessab passed
under the Syrian authorities. Otherwise, it would have been Turkish
territory, like Mount Musa. We must have a special tactics, focus
on diplomacy and voice practical issues internationally. We must
not apologize. Unfortunately, however, we are fighting each other,
whether in or outside Armenia. If we take some food and clothes to
our compatriots in Kessab, we haven't done something big. Let's not
think that now we can go to bed quietly, thinking that we have done
a great job.
Mr. Sefilian, what should have been done for the Armenians of Kessab
that has not been done?
We must not be limited to sending a little food and clothes. We must
be working towards this direction 24 hours a day and decide what
should be done rather than have the majority frighten people with a
statement to not listen to the opinion of minorities. Don't think that
minorities will not move on to real action at some point. I would like
our government, as well as the traditional parties, to be more aware
and alert. As soon as one person visits the Armenians of Kessab, they
are encourages very fast, they are touched, thinking that people are
interested in them, whether an administrative delegation of Armenia
or other organizations.
How many Armenians are still living in the church?
I have found out that 130 people are left in the church. The others
have been put up by their friends and relatives in Latakia, some
of them are already in Beirut, others are in Aleppo. The Armenians
of Kessab have scattered, 130 people are left. I asked them whether
they will leave Kessab if such an opportunity comes up. A few days
after the developments in Kessab Hovik Abrahamyan announced that
Armenia will welcome the people of Kessab. I found out that the
people and authorities of Kessab are against leaving Kessab. It is
highly important to me that the people will not leave their town,
which is a final decision. Yes, they have scattered now but everyone
hopes and believes that they will return. However, they say they are
unable to liberate Kessab by themselves. They hope their state will
do it, and they will return to their homes.
In your opinion, will it be possible to return to Kessab?
It depends on the government of Syria which must liberate Kessab. I
went to the positions in some places and saw there 7 or 8 men of
Kessab, aged between 28 and 45, who did not go to Latakia like others
but found guns and joined the army of liberation of Kessab and are
defending their homes. I have talked to them, and it is upsetting
that even the Armenian leaders in Latakia are not aware of these
guys. One of them pointed at a house in about 25 meters and said it
is their house. "I will not leave this place and I don't care what
the leaders of the community have decided."
Hayastan Pan-Armenian Fund provided some financial assistance to
the people of Kessab. In your opinion, was it enough to resolve the
problems of Kessab people?
Only the first three days were difficult for the people of Kessab
when there were serious problems with organizing distribution of
food three times a day and clothes. Today I saw there is a lot of
food and clothes. Even the Syrian government takes care of them.
We at Renaissance have decided to raise funds and direct other
fundraisers to think about what we are going to do after return to
Kessab. A lot of houses have been ruined that must be reconstructed.
The people of Kessab do not worry much about destruction of their
houses as much as about their fruit orchards which are their source
of income.
What way out do you see in this situation?
I can say it should not be left like this. What happened does not mean
that we have already lost and should focus on evacuating people. On
the contrary, we must do everything to return Kessab. What happened
there was a political decision and it was not accidental that it
happens ahead of the 100th anniversary of the genocide. I've even
seen Turkish documents, passports that had been taken from killed
militants. It means that Turks participated in the offensive on Kessab
dressed as mercenary militants. Not only did Turkey open its border
for the militants but also its citizens participated in those actions.
What happened was betrayal and deception. You know that Syria has been
at war for 3 years but there were not many troops in the northwest of
the country. The point is that an international agreement was signed
in 1938 which allowed Syrians not to worry about those positions. In
fact, Turkey has violated the agreement, and thousands of militants
penetrated to Syria from that area. I've heard their number was
20,000-22,000. In the beginning we were told about 5000-6000 militants
but their number gradually rose to 20,000-22,000. It is clear that
Turkey will not claim responsible but everyone knows who backs
all this.
Turkey was said to provide refugee Armenians of Kessab with everything,
even houses.
I have learned that the Turkish government took special care of the
two women, the Titizian sisters who left for Turkey, to demonstrate to
the world how thoughtful they are. Like all the Armenians of Kessab,
Titizian sisters were to leave for Latakia but Turkey did everything
to take them to Mount Musa to use it for publicity.
I'd like to repeat that there is a lot to do, it is going to be
difficult but not impossible. We must do everything to make sure
that we return to Kessab and win a diplomatic victory. We are tired
of hearing that we have no diplomacy and we have always lost.
Unfortunately, all we are doing is fighting each other, we do not
tolerate each other, whereas we should come together and think about
how to face up to these challenges.
- See more at:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/32296#sthash.xFESkGkV.dpuf