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TURKEY DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF FACILITATING SYRIAN OPPOSITION FORCES
Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 26 2014
26 March 2014, Wednesday /TODAY'S ZAMAN, ANKARA
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has denied the allegations of Turkey
facilitating Syrian opposition forces by allowing them to use Turkish
territory and providing other means of support during the recent
intensive clashes in Kessab and Latakia in Syria.
"The allegations are completely baseless and untrue," the Foreign
Ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday, following claims
that the rebels entered Syria from Turkey.
Fighters 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 of Kessab on Sunday, two days after rebels launched
an offensive.
The Foreign Ministry also condemned the attempts of drawing a parallel
between the incidents in Kessab and some sad incidents that happened
in the past and described them as "a political propaganda attempt,"
obliquely referring to the so-called "Armenian genocide" issue as
"sad incidents."
Armenians claim that Turks committed genocide in 1915 against Armenians
during World War l. Ankara categorically denies claims that the events
of 1915 amount to genocide, arguing that both Turks and Armenians
were killed when Armenians revolted against the Ottoman Empire in
collaboration with the Russian army that was invading Eastern Anatolia.
An influential Armenian group based in the US has claimed that Turkey
facilitated attacks by rebels on predominantly Armenian towns in
Syria on the Turkish border and has urged the US administration and
Congress to pressure Ankara to end its support.
The Syrian government as well as several Armenian websites claim
that rebels entered Syria from Turkey. In a strongly worded statement
released on Monday, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
quoted its chairman, Ken Hachikian, as saying, "The attacks on the
predominantly Armenian-populated village of Kessab over the weekend
represent an attack on all Armenians."
Stressing that Turkey is the country most affected by the Syrian
regime's violence and aggressive policies in the past three years,
the Foreign Ministry said Turkey is opening its doors to people
who are fleeing from the Syrian civil war, regardless of ethnic,
religious or sectarian origin.
The Foreign Ministry said there are about 800,000 Syrians in Turkey
at the moment and that Turkey is trying to provide for these people's
needs as much as it can.
Turkey, "as part of its humane and conscientious responsibility," has
notified the United Nations stating that Syrian Armenians in Kessab
will be welcome in Turkey and given protection, the Foreign Ministry
said. It also added that Armenian community representatives in Turkey
have been notified about this offer through official channels.
"As with all other Syrians, Turkey will take the necessary steps to
meet the needs of Syrian Armenians," the Foreign Ministry added.
http://www.todayszaman.com//news-343125-turkey-denies-allegations-of-facilitating-syrian-opposition-forces.html?fb_action_ids=284913288351886&fb_actio n_types=og.recommends
Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 26 2014
26 March 2014, Wednesday /TODAY'S ZAMAN, ANKARA
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has denied the allegations of Turkey
facilitating Syrian opposition forces by allowing them to use Turkish
territory and providing other means of support during the recent
intensive clashes in Kessab and Latakia in Syria.
"The allegations are completely baseless and untrue," the Foreign
Ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday, following claims
that the rebels entered Syria from Turkey.
Fighters 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 of Kessab on Sunday, two days after rebels launched
an offensive.
The Foreign Ministry also condemned the attempts of drawing a parallel
between the incidents in Kessab and some sad incidents that happened
in the past and described them as "a political propaganda attempt,"
obliquely referring to the so-called "Armenian genocide" issue as
"sad incidents."
Armenians claim that Turks committed genocide in 1915 against Armenians
during World War l. Ankara categorically denies claims that the events
of 1915 amount to genocide, arguing that both Turks and Armenians
were killed when Armenians revolted against the Ottoman Empire in
collaboration with the Russian army that was invading Eastern Anatolia.
An influential Armenian group based in the US has claimed that Turkey
facilitated attacks by rebels on predominantly Armenian towns in
Syria on the Turkish border and has urged the US administration and
Congress to pressure Ankara to end its support.
The Syrian government as well as several Armenian websites claim
that rebels entered Syria from Turkey. In a strongly worded statement
released on Monday, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
quoted its chairman, Ken Hachikian, as saying, "The attacks on the
predominantly Armenian-populated village of Kessab over the weekend
represent an attack on all Armenians."
Stressing that Turkey is the country most affected by the Syrian
regime's violence and aggressive policies in the past three years,
the Foreign Ministry said Turkey is opening its doors to people
who are fleeing from the Syrian civil war, regardless of ethnic,
religious or sectarian origin.
The Foreign Ministry said there are about 800,000 Syrians in Turkey
at the moment and that Turkey is trying to provide for these people's
needs as much as it can.
Turkey, "as part of its humane and conscientious responsibility," has
notified the United Nations stating that Syrian Armenians in Kessab
will be welcome in Turkey and given protection, the Foreign Ministry
said. It also added that Armenian community representatives in Turkey
have been notified about this offer through official channels.
"As with all other Syrians, Turkey will take the necessary steps to
meet the needs of Syrian Armenians," the Foreign Ministry added.
http://www.todayszaman.com//news-343125-turkey-denies-allegations-of-facilitating-syrian-opposition-forces.html?fb_action_ids=284913288351886&fb_actio n_types=og.recommends