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ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN SYRIA DEVELOPING PLAN OF ACTIONS TO PROTECT ARMENIANS OF KESSAB -PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, March 24. / ARKA /. The Armenian embassy in Syria is
developing a plan of swift actions to help protect the ethnic Armenian
population of the town of Kessab in Syria, Armenian president Serzh
Sargsyan said in The Hague.
For several days Turkish troops shelled the Armenian villages in
violation of international laws and obligations openning the way for
the rebels associated with Al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front, Sham al-Islam
and Ansar al-Sham, who according to reports crossed the Turkish
border and attacked the Armenian civilian population of the area in
the early hours of March 21.
Some 670 Armenian families, the majority of the population of Kessab,
were evacuated by the local Armenian community leadership to safer
areas in neighboring Basit and Latakia.
On Saturday, March 22, Syrian troops launched a counteroffensive in an
attempt to regain the border crossing point, eye-witnesses and state
media reported. However, on Sunday, March 23, the extremist groups once
again entered the town of Kessab, took the remaining Armenian families
hostage, desecrated the town's three Armenian churches, pillaging
local residences and occupying the town and surrounding villages.
Sargsyan's press office said the president expressed his deep concern
over the events around Kessab and spoke about previous attacks by
Turkish troops on Kessab in 1909 and 1915. He said the current third
attempt of Turkish authorities to make Armenians leave the area is
a serious challenge to 21st century's mechanisms to protect national
minorities.
"I think that everyone should realize that the parallels that come
to one's mind should be sobering to all the sides," he said.
President Sargsyan thanked the Syrian government for its steps taken
in this difficult time to protect the Armenians of Kessab.
"I have already instructed the diplomatic missions of the Republic of
Armenia to the UN in New York and Geneva offices to ask corresponding
international agencies dealing with human rights and minority issues
to address the issue of security of Armenians in Kessab and guarantee
their safe return to their homes ," said Sargsyan .
The president also discussed this issue with the Catholicos of Cilicia
Aram I. Armenian president is in the Netherlands to attend a Nuclear
Security Summit.
Kessab is located on Syrian-Turkish border. It has thousands of
Armenian population, who run their community and party offices,
schools and hospitals. -0 -
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenian_embassy_in_syria_developing_plan_of_actio ns_to_protect_armenians_of_kessab_president_/#sthash.XC8J8Aax.dpuf
YEREVAN, March 24. / ARKA /. The Armenian embassy in Syria is
developing a plan of swift actions to help protect the ethnic Armenian
population of the town of Kessab in Syria, Armenian president Serzh
Sargsyan said in The Hague.
For several days Turkish troops shelled the Armenian villages in
violation of international laws and obligations openning the way for
the rebels associated with Al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front, Sham al-Islam
and Ansar al-Sham, who according to reports crossed the Turkish
border and attacked the Armenian civilian population of the area in
the early hours of March 21.
Some 670 Armenian families, the majority of the population of Kessab,
were evacuated by the local Armenian community leadership to safer
areas in neighboring Basit and Latakia.
On Saturday, March 22, Syrian troops launched a counteroffensive in an
attempt to regain the border crossing point, eye-witnesses and state
media reported. However, on Sunday, March 23, the extremist groups once
again entered the town of Kessab, took the remaining Armenian families
hostage, desecrated the town's three Armenian churches, pillaging
local residences and occupying the town and surrounding villages.
Sargsyan's press office said the president expressed his deep concern
over the events around Kessab and spoke about previous attacks by
Turkish troops on Kessab in 1909 and 1915. He said the current third
attempt of Turkish authorities to make Armenians leave the area is
a serious challenge to 21st century's mechanisms to protect national
minorities.
"I think that everyone should realize that the parallels that come
to one's mind should be sobering to all the sides," he said.
President Sargsyan thanked the Syrian government for its steps taken
in this difficult time to protect the Armenians of Kessab.
"I have already instructed the diplomatic missions of the Republic of
Armenia to the UN in New York and Geneva offices to ask corresponding
international agencies dealing with human rights and minority issues
to address the issue of security of Armenians in Kessab and guarantee
their safe return to their homes ," said Sargsyan .
The president also discussed this issue with the Catholicos of Cilicia
Aram I. Armenian president is in the Netherlands to attend a Nuclear
Security Summit.
Kessab is located on Syrian-Turkish border. It has thousands of
Armenian population, who run their community and party offices,
schools and hospitals. -0 -
- See more at:
http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenian_embassy_in_syria_developing_plan_of_actio ns_to_protect_armenians_of_kessab_president_/#sthash.XC8J8Aax.dpuf