April 07, 2014 | 11:15
A requiem service in memory of the victims of Syria’s war was conducted Sunday in Surb Etchmiadzin Church of Tbilisi, Georgia.
Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, Primate of the Diocese of the ArmenianApostolicChurch in Georgia, attended the mourning ceremony.
Subsequently, the initiative of the “Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the ArmenianApostolicChurch in Georgia, the Assembly of Tbilisi Armenians, and the Armenian Community of Georgia, and a group of Armenians accompanied by Father Manuk Zeynalyan headed to the United Nations Office in Georgia.
The protestors, holding banners and the national flags of Armenia and Georgia, demanded to end the violence against the Syrian civilians and bring Turkey to justice for providing support to Islamist groups attacking the peaceful city of Kessab and surrounding areas.
The peaceful demonstrators passed Chavchavazde Avenue and headed to the Turkish Embassy. They waved banners in different languages saying “Save Kessab!”, “Stop crime against Kessab!”; the protestors also demanded from Turkey to stop its genocidal policy towards the Armenians.
By and large, more than 250 people participated in the demonstration.
Let us recall, that on March 21, terrorist groups opposing the Syrian government entered Armenian-inhabited city of Kessab from Turkey.
The Armenian NGOs in Georgia issued the below appeal to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, which is signed by the Armenian NGOs in Georgia:
“To United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
“Mr. Ban Ki-moon,
“According to various sources the civil war in Syria has now killed more than 100,000 people, including loss of civilian life. Since the beginning of the so called Syrian Crisis it has been reported that in addition to Syrian citizens the foreign citizens, members of radical Islamist groups including those that are recognized by the majority of UN member states, as a terrorist organizations, oppose the country’s government.
“On 21 March 2014 various terrorist groups and bandit formations entered the town of Kessab and surrounding areas. As a result of the armed attack more that 2000 Kessab town residents, the vast majority of whom are the Syrian citizens of Armenian origin, who less than 100 years ago found shelter in this town during the 1915-23 Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Turkish government against Armenians, were forced to leave their homes and belongings and seek refuge in other Syrian settlements. After Islamist militants took over the Syrian town of Kessab they committed numerous acts of vandalism, destroying and looting Christian religious buildings and institutions, private and civil institutions (schools, hospitals, retail facilities etc.).
“It must be recalled that the first implemented by the Turkish armed units massacre in Kessab took place in 1909, while during the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide, implemented by the Turkish government, 5000 Armenians were murdered in Kessab.
“The fact that armed terrorists entered Kessab from Turkey causes sincere indignation. The fact that Turkey allowed armed militants to cross freely the state border with Syria, as well as many records spread by radical Islamist groups, indicate that the TurkishRepublic provided full support to militants invading peaceful town like Kessab. Basing on spread by mass media records of confidential conversation of Turkish top leaders, as well as a statement issued by the Turkish Prime Minister and many other materials it is confirmed that apart from technical support Turkey has provided political support to a variety of terrorist groups.
“We, the undersigned Armenian NGOs in Georgia urge you:
“• to pay close attention to total violation of fundamental human rights and gross violations of international humanitarian law, taking place during the intervention of the Islamist groups in Syria;
“• to examine the evidence on Turkey providing technical and political support to Islamist groups attacking the peaceful city of Kessab;
“• to give a legal opinion on Turkey’s actions and bring Turkey to justice for its genocidal policy towards the Armenian civilians population of Syria.
‘“Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia
“Armenian Community of Georgia
“Assembly of Tbilisi Armenians
“Union of Tbilisi Armenians
“International Association of Pan-Armenian Forum Participants
“Online Magazine Armenian Art Hall.”