Public Council urges international condemnation of Turkey over Kessab

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia's Public Council will address a petition to similar institutions in 67 countries across the world urging to use their influence in curbing the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. The petition calls to boost awareness and condemn the events in the Armenian-populated town of Kessab as Turkey's another violation against the peaceful existence of the Armenian people, the Council's press service reported.

As the Public Council representatives stressed at an April 2 sitting, with no guarantees that the tragic events might not be repeated, the Council will develop a list of measures to enable rapid response in case of similar situations, Armenian media reported.

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.

“The Armenians of Kessab must be sure that their problems are at the center of the government’s attention and that Armenia supports them,” Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the cabinet meeting Thursday, April 3, Panorama.am reported.

Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan noted that 670 Armenian families were deported from Kessab. Of them, about 400 are currently in Latakia and Damascus, several families were evacuated to Beirut and Aynchar, over 200 people found refuge in Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Latakia.

According to the Minister, 38 people were taken hostage. Of them, 24 were freed, 3 were taken to Vakif village in Turkey. Children go to school in Aynchar. The refugee families are provided with food and first necessity items.

As Ms Hakobyan noted, Kessab Armenians demand an inquiry into the recent attack and wish to return to their homes.

“Displacement constitutes a crime of genocide under the UN Convention,” an Armenian expert has said, commenting on the evacuation of Armenians from the Syrian town of Kessab, Tert.am reported.

Ruben Melkonyan insisted that the evacuation of Kessab Armenians falls within the internationally accepted definition of genocide. “What happens is a displacement of the Armenian community and looting of the Armenians' property, so this falls within the definition of the term genocide. Hence, there is no need to search through the episodes to see whether or not those killed are really Armenians,” he added.

Commenting on increased attention of Russian media to Kessab events, the expert noted, “instead of saying that we are losing a very serious community, the media outlets have focused on why Russia is using it all for its own purposes. The Russia Federation is naturally pursuing its interests there in its confrontation with the West. However, he said, Armenia should try and use the game to its own benefit.”