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`Turkey is responsible of whatever happens in Kessab'
Vahakn KeÅ?iÅ?yan
02.26.2015 09:38 NEWS
People continue their struggle to survive in Kessab, a town on the
border of Syria with Turkey in the Hatay province area. Following the
occupation of the town by Al-Nusra forces last year, the Armenians in
the town had been dispersed, with most of them coming to Vakıflı
Village in Hatay, and had returned after the Syrian army had retaken
the town. However, the people of Kessab now face the threat of ISIS.
We spoke about the most recent developments with a resident of Kessab
who asked to remain unnamed:
`We have no option but to trust the army of our country. We do not
know what kind of a bargain Kessab is used in, yet our fate is
determined by these political events. Our biggest problem is the fact
that we cannot trust our neighbour Turkey. Because we saw Turkey help
armed groups with our own eyes. We witnessed Kessab military stations
being shelled by artillery fire from Turkey. No one can guarantee us
that this will not be repeated. Turkey never denied it was involved in
the previous events, nor did it provide any reassurance that they
would not be repeated. So how are we to sleep peacefully at night?
The political circumstances have turned us into the political hostages
of the conflicting forces. Even the faintest flame between them costs
us our lives. But we have to remain here, because we have no
alternative. Where could we go? We do not want to abandon Kessab. To
leave Kessab would mean that we are cut off from the land. We cannot
live apart from the land. We can't even live in Armenia. All we can do
is to be on alert. We live in fear every day. Snipers target the town,
which means we can't even go and work in the orchards.
Others have already left for Latakia (Lazkiye). It is not easy for
every one to just leave and go. Many who left have returned. We hope
that these incidents our temporary, and we can go back to working in
our orchards. There are 250 students at our schools, and their lessons
continue. In other words, life goes on. Now there is a huge military
regiment opposite Kessab, and we can see it grow by the day. At night
you can see its lights even from Latakia. Four years ago, that
barracks did not exist, yet now it entirely covers the top of Gasios
Mountain. They have plans, but we do not know what they are. The State
of Syria has nothing to say. According to conventions, the border is
protected by Turkey, which means anything that happens in Kessab is
Turkey's responsibility. Turkey should be the first to respond to the
attacks.
`We saw it with our own eyes'
We do not use the main highway from Kessab to Latakia, because it is
dangerous and open to attacks. There are Turcoman villages around
Kessab as well. We lived in harmony and peace with them for decades.
But now we cannot communicate with them because many people from those
villages have joined jihadist forces and are being used by the State
of Turkey. Of course, not all of them have become jihadists, and we
continue to meet with our close friends, in secret, because they do
not want it to be known that they are meeting us. We already said what
we have to say to the UN representative, and we can repeat it now.
Armed forces would never have entered Kessab without the help of the
artillery of the army of Turkey. The last time they tried they failed
at first, but when the bombs arrived from Turkey, the next day they
entered Kessab. We saw it with our own eyes.'
http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/10696/turkey-is-responsible-of-whatever-happens-in-kessab
Vahakn KeÅ?iÅ?yan
02.26.2015 09:38 NEWS
People continue their struggle to survive in Kessab, a town on the
border of Syria with Turkey in the Hatay province area. Following the
occupation of the town by Al-Nusra forces last year, the Armenians in
the town had been dispersed, with most of them coming to Vakıflı
Village in Hatay, and had returned after the Syrian army had retaken
the town. However, the people of Kessab now face the threat of ISIS.
We spoke about the most recent developments with a resident of Kessab
who asked to remain unnamed:
`We have no option but to trust the army of our country. We do not
know what kind of a bargain Kessab is used in, yet our fate is
determined by these political events. Our biggest problem is the fact
that we cannot trust our neighbour Turkey. Because we saw Turkey help
armed groups with our own eyes. We witnessed Kessab military stations
being shelled by artillery fire from Turkey. No one can guarantee us
that this will not be repeated. Turkey never denied it was involved in
the previous events, nor did it provide any reassurance that they
would not be repeated. So how are we to sleep peacefully at night?
The political circumstances have turned us into the political hostages
of the conflicting forces. Even the faintest flame between them costs
us our lives. But we have to remain here, because we have no
alternative. Where could we go? We do not want to abandon Kessab. To
leave Kessab would mean that we are cut off from the land. We cannot
live apart from the land. We can't even live in Armenia. All we can do
is to be on alert. We live in fear every day. Snipers target the town,
which means we can't even go and work in the orchards.
Others have already left for Latakia (Lazkiye). It is not easy for
every one to just leave and go. Many who left have returned. We hope
that these incidents our temporary, and we can go back to working in
our orchards. There are 250 students at our schools, and their lessons
continue. In other words, life goes on. Now there is a huge military
regiment opposite Kessab, and we can see it grow by the day. At night
you can see its lights even from Latakia. Four years ago, that
barracks did not exist, yet now it entirely covers the top of Gasios
Mountain. They have plans, but we do not know what they are. The State
of Syria has nothing to say. According to conventions, the border is
protected by Turkey, which means anything that happens in Kessab is
Turkey's responsibility. Turkey should be the first to respond to the
attacks.
`We saw it with our own eyes'
We do not use the main highway from Kessab to Latakia, because it is
dangerous and open to attacks. There are Turcoman villages around
Kessab as well. We lived in harmony and peace with them for decades.
But now we cannot communicate with them because many people from those
villages have joined jihadist forces and are being used by the State
of Turkey. Of course, not all of them have become jihadists, and we
continue to meet with our close friends, in secret, because they do
not want it to be known that they are meeting us. We already said what
we have to say to the UN representative, and we can repeat it now.
Armed forces would never have entered Kessab without the help of the
artillery of the army of Turkey. The last time they tried they failed
at first, but when the bombs arrived from Turkey, the next day they
entered Kessab. We saw it with our own eyes.'
http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/10696/turkey-is-responsible-of-whatever-happens-in-kessab