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Members of Congress condemn Kessab attacks
13:54 29.03.2014
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was
joined by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and Michael Grimm (R-NY), Armenian Genocide Resolution Lead Sponsors
David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Representatives Brad
Sherman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA) and James McGovern (D-MA) in
condemning the recent attacks against the historically Armenian city
of Kessab, Syria, urging the State Department to investigate the
incursion and take immediate action to safeguard the vulnerable
population, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
"We would like to thank Chairman Menendez and the many other
Congressional defenders of human rights who have stepped forward to
call the world's urgent attention to the attacks against the
predominantly Armenian population of Kessab," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working with each of
them to ensure that Turkey's role is explicitly condemned by our
government, as we continue efforts to secure the safety and return of
Kessab's civilian residents to their ancestral homes."
In a letter to constituents, Chairman Menendez stated, "Like you, I am
gravely concerned by reports of a March 21, 2014 attack on the
predominantly Syrian Armenian town of Kessab, near the Turkish border,
by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists based in Turkey. Attacks of this nature
are another example of a dangerous new chapter in the violence now
engulfing Syria; one where Syrian minorities are actively targeted by
Islamic extremists because of their religion and ethnicity. I condemn
all such attacks, including those on Armenian Christians."
In a joint letter to President Obama, Representatives Pallone, Grimm,
Valadao and Schiff echoed these concerns, noting "When coupled with a
mass exodus of the Armenian community, these events are far too
reminiscent of the early days of the Armenian Genocide, which took
place nearly 100 years ago in Ottoman Turkey under the cover of World
War I." The letter goes on to state, "With the Christian Armenian
community being uprooted from its homeland, yet again, we strongly
urge you to take all necessary measures without delay to safeguard the
Christian Armenian community of Kessab. We also believe that now is
the time to redouble America's efforts to ensure that all minority
communities at risk in the Middle East are afforded greater
protection."
Senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Brad Sherman stated
that he has "been in contact with the State Department and have urged
them to take the necessary actions to assist the Armenians in Syria.
Turkey must take immediate action to help prevent extremist attacks on
Armenian civilians."
Rep. James McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights
Commission, explained, "I strongly condemn the brutal attacks on the
Armenian-populated town of Kessab by al-Qaeda affiliated armed bands."
He went on to note that he is "deeply concerned by the reports that
these attacks allegedly originated in Turkey and demand that the
United States and international community conduct a thorough and
critical investigation of these claims."
Central California Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), in a letter to his
constituents, wrote, "As you may know, al Qaeda-linked terrorists
attacked Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian town of Kessab,
Syria six days ago. These attacks are deplorable, and I have made
clear to the State Department that we must determine exactly what
happened and continue to work with our allies to prevent such
atrocities from happening again."
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/29/members-of-congress-condemn-kessab-attacks/
13:54 29.03.2014
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was
joined by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and Michael Grimm (R-NY), Armenian Genocide Resolution Lead Sponsors
David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Representatives Brad
Sherman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA) and James McGovern (D-MA) in
condemning the recent attacks against the historically Armenian city
of Kessab, Syria, urging the State Department to investigate the
incursion and take immediate action to safeguard the vulnerable
population, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
"We would like to thank Chairman Menendez and the many other
Congressional defenders of human rights who have stepped forward to
call the world's urgent attention to the attacks against the
predominantly Armenian population of Kessab," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working with each of
them to ensure that Turkey's role is explicitly condemned by our
government, as we continue efforts to secure the safety and return of
Kessab's civilian residents to their ancestral homes."
In a letter to constituents, Chairman Menendez stated, "Like you, I am
gravely concerned by reports of a March 21, 2014 attack on the
predominantly Syrian Armenian town of Kessab, near the Turkish border,
by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists based in Turkey. Attacks of this nature
are another example of a dangerous new chapter in the violence now
engulfing Syria; one where Syrian minorities are actively targeted by
Islamic extremists because of their religion and ethnicity. I condemn
all such attacks, including those on Armenian Christians."
In a joint letter to President Obama, Representatives Pallone, Grimm,
Valadao and Schiff echoed these concerns, noting "When coupled with a
mass exodus of the Armenian community, these events are far too
reminiscent of the early days of the Armenian Genocide, which took
place nearly 100 years ago in Ottoman Turkey under the cover of World
War I." The letter goes on to state, "With the Christian Armenian
community being uprooted from its homeland, yet again, we strongly
urge you to take all necessary measures without delay to safeguard the
Christian Armenian community of Kessab. We also believe that now is
the time to redouble America's efforts to ensure that all minority
communities at risk in the Middle East are afforded greater
protection."
Senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Brad Sherman stated
that he has "been in contact with the State Department and have urged
them to take the necessary actions to assist the Armenians in Syria.
Turkey must take immediate action to help prevent extremist attacks on
Armenian civilians."
Rep. James McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights
Commission, explained, "I strongly condemn the brutal attacks on the
Armenian-populated town of Kessab by al-Qaeda affiliated armed bands."
He went on to note that he is "deeply concerned by the reports that
these attacks allegedly originated in Turkey and demand that the
United States and international community conduct a thorough and
critical investigation of these claims."
Central California Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), in a letter to his
constituents, wrote, "As you may know, al Qaeda-linked terrorists
attacked Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian town of Kessab,
Syria six days ago. These attacks are deplorable, and I have made
clear to the State Department that we must determine exactly what
happened and continue to work with our allies to prevent such
atrocities from happening again."
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/29/members-of-congress-condemn-kessab-attacks/