Armenian MPs share impressions after Kessab visit

 April 1, 2014 - 19:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian MPs shared results of their visit to Syria where they met the Armenians who fled the March 21 attack on the town of Kessab.

MP Tevan Poghosyan told the press on Tuesday, April 1 that the purpose of their visit was to better understand what assistance is required and make respective suggestions, Armenia Now reported.

Another law-maker, Edmon Marukyan noted that people he met in Latakia told him that on March 21, at dawn, Armenian guards noticed how Turkish border guards drew back and an advancement of certain groups started.

“The attack was very unexpected, nobody could have imagined that the neighboring country would open its border, grant its premises to some military to attack the village, and it was due to the Syrian army forces that both the Armenians and the Alevis populating Kessab were able to flee to Latakia,” Marukyan said, adding that the 320 families, who have their IDs and have found shelter at Latakia’s St Mariam Church, are given food and necessary items there, while the others are staying in private houses with Armenian families living in Latakia.

According to Marukyan, because Kessab Armenians have been displaced three times over the past century, they know that even if they returned their economy would no longer be the same as before, their homes have been looted, their town destroyed. Hence they are asking for help to revive their economy upon return.

“Armenia’s foreign office is only using 10% of its potential. It should develop a global strategy of cooperating with Armenian communities,” expert of information security Tigran Kocharyan told reporters on Tuesday as he commented on Armenia’s response to the events in Kessab, particularly on mass media’s activities.

“The impression is that the Armenian communities are remembered when money is needed or telethons are organized,” the expert said.

With respect to mass media, Kocharyan said that reliable sources – both the community and the Armenian MPs that visited Latakia – have proved trustworthy. “They thus prevented misinformation.”

“Armenian media outlets are most cautious and efficient. We should be cautious about disseminating information from abroad because it may contain misinformation, but Syrian Armenians are using it as well,” the expert said, according to Tert.am.

As Kessab residents, brothers Serzh and Aram Kalukians, told reporters, fighting in the town continues with Syrian army trying to regain control.

“According to recent reports, the army has stricken the rebels who entered the territory with the help of the Turkish army. The majority of Armenian population was evacuated, yet the fates of 30-40 people remain unknown,” Serzh Kalukian said.

Commenting on the web-circulated photos and videos, Serzh Kalukian noted that the latters were made in Syria, yet not in Kessab.

“Children were the first to be moved from the city on the day of the attacks. Some people were injured, yet no pogroms were registered. There’s no report on recent events since all communication with the town was cut off. Recent reports suggest Syrian army greatly advanced while trying to push out the militants,” the brothers said.

Meanwhile, according to Aysor.am, 150 Artsakh citizens answered to the call of Karabakh war veteran, MP Vahan Badasyan to visit Kessab and Latakia. As Badasyan told Galatv.am, all 150 volunteers won’t be able to leave for Latakia for financial reasons, but a small group will travel to Syria, with their names to be announced soon.

Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan told Tert.am that the Kessab mayor informed her 20 of the 38 Armenian captives were set free. “The release of the rest 18 is being negotiated,” the minister said.

Other people are occupying Kessab Armenians’ houses now.