$28000 raised in Hayastan Fund's Kessab outreach initiative

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian delegation submitted the text of a statement on tragic evens in Armenian-populated town of Kessab at the April 7 PACE session.

Located in the northwestern corner of Syria, near the border with Turkey, Kessab had, until very recently, evaded major battles in the Syrian conflict. The local Armenian population had increased in recently years with the city serving as safe haven for those fleeing from the war-torn cities of Yacubiye, Rakka and Aleppo. On the morning of March 21 extremist foreign fighters launched a vicious attack on Kessab civilians, forcing them to flee neighboring Latakia and Bassit. There are approximately 60 families living in refuge in the Armenian Apostolic Church in Latakia, sleeping wherever there is space in the facility.

"The statement urges Turkish authorities against allowing terrorist groups on its territories, from where Kessab attack was initiated. A number of international political groups supported the document, with the necessary number of signatures to be hopefully collected by the end of the day," Armenian MP Naira Karapetyan reported, according to Panorama.am.

Meanwhile, according to Frant.me, the Primate of the Armenian Church of Damascus Armash Nalbandian called on the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill I to visit Syria to support the country in times of hardship and boost international awareness of Kessab events.

Protest rallies against militant attacks in Kessab were held in Saratov, Russia and Tbilisi, Georgia.

Also, a sum of $28.256 was raised in the frameworks of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund's Kessab outreach initiative.