Turkey Cell phones are the next turget

April 3, 2014 By administrator

The security measures in the Foreign Ministry building will soon be increased to prevent espionage attempts, after the leak of a top security meeting

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

The use of cell phones inside the Foreign Ministry will soon be prohibited to prevent future espionage attempts, officials have announced in the wake of the illegal recording of a meeting between Turkey’s top security officials, including the foreign minister.

Diplomats and other ministry personnel will not be allowed to carry their cell phones inside the ministry and, in addition, the meetings to be held in the ministry will take place in a cell phone-free environment, the Hürriyet Daily News has learned.

The move is part of a substantial plan to tighten the security inside the ministry which is expected to be implemented soon when accomplished.

Turkey was shocked last week after a recording of a high-level security meeting on Syria at the Foreign Ministry was leaked through social media, with all government officials calling it “espionage.” An Ankara prosecutor launched a probe into the incident on spying charges, while a detailed investigation is also being carried out by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT). Along with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, MİT chief Hakan Fidan, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu and deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Gürel were present at the meeting.

Initial findings of the investigation revealed that the espionage was from inside the ministry. President Abdullah Gül, talking to reporters traveling with him to Kuwait, confirmed that it was perpetrated from inside the ministry, implying that it could bring about a purge at the ministry upon the foreign minister’s initiative.

Scrutinize measures

Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru confirmed to the Daily News that efforts were underway to tighten security inside the ministry and its premises elsewhere. “We were already very careful on these issues, but this incident has shown that we have to scrutinize security measures we have been implementing,” Koru said.

Koru did not give details of the new security precautions to be taken but underlined that it will be a substantial one that focuses on document and communication security, the confidentiality of meetings and the physical security of the premises.

‘I came home the key to whether the bearded man’

April 3, 2014 By administrator

Translated from Turkish

AGOS Kesab town since March 21, at the hands of Islamic and Turkmen groups. Kesab formed in the majority of the elderly is estimated that up to 30 people remained. Two of these people, was delivered to Turkish authorities by opponents. Titizy 82 and 84 year old brothers, who only Armenian village in Turkey are being guests in Vakıflı. Sırpuhi Titizy, the hometown of the key when you leave the house to take themselves gave the militants.

Mesafedekikesab Yayladagi in Hatay border crossing three kilometers from the town since March 21, at the hands of Islamic and Turkmen groups. The town’s civilian population to cities such as Latakia and Tartus was forced to flee. Latakiya Surp Hagop Armenian Church is in the shelter of up to 60 families, while other families took shelter with their relatives and acquaintances of the case.

Militants almost every house ransacked and the door and windows, even dismantled and sent to Turkey where Kesab majority in the elderly comprised of up to 30 people estimated to remain ediliyor.b people, two of the opposition by the Turkish authorities was delivered. Opposition to Latakiya take when removing themselves from the town stating that they said they Titizy 82 and 84 year old brothers, who only Armenian village in Turkey are being guests in Vakıflı. Sırpuhi Titizy, the hometown of the key when you leave the house to take themselves gave the militants. When asked why he did that the response, showing the suffering experienced sex with all simplicity: “Vermes would enter if I kick in the door after we went.”

LORA BAYTAR

By Turkey on March 21 as a result of the opposition groups launched attacks Kesab seized the town was completely drained. I stayed only a few people in town. The remaining two of the Satenik (84) and Sırpuhi (82) Titizy were brothers. Past taken from their homes by the opposition on Monday Yayladagi border gate dropped two sisters, Yayladag District and with the introduction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were brought to Vakiflikoy.

Dissidents on to say they would take themselves off to Latakiya said they Titizy brothers, when they came to Vakiflikoy was in a sense of fear and uncertainty.

Titizy name of brothers, as well as the 90-year-old Syrian named Nizar was brought to Yayladag Kesab through the Border Gate. Yayladağı Governor and District Police Commander Turan Yilmaz met by Akif Kızılkaya Titizy brothers, and then ulaştı.satenik to Vakiflikoy Sırpuhi early last talked to Titizyan’l.

How did remove you from your home?

Armenians had been gone a week without Kesab. Bearded men came to our house. Were 10 people. Long hair, tall were poslu. Realized we were afraid “Do not be afraid,” they said. Went into the house, the house was mistaken, “Do you have weapons?” He asked. “What’s our son, nor your husband have, we’re all alone, what weapons do we do?” We said. After they went.

They were talking in Arabic?

No, they spoke Turkish. Just us and our neighbor, an elderly man named Stalin remained in Karaduran. Another bearded man came again. We called Stalin, because this bearded man was speaking in Arabic, did not understand. Stalin said, the man goes to Latakiya tomorrow you will take the side of the Armenians. The next day at 7 am As the man came to take us away. ‘re In the car. I closed the door of the house, I locked my key and then drove the man.

Why did you give the key?

After we are gone if I did not kick in the door would enter. “It’s all yours, you remain healthy in my house,” I said. He did not say, put the key in his pocket and shook his head. Then brought us to the border with Turkey. Asked the man, “You’re taking us to Turkey? We were going to Latakiya behold “I said. He did not answer. Our goods vehicles, did not treat us badly. After the border crossing us of the great man (Yayladag Governor) took us, took our fingerprints drew our pictures. See our blood pressure and they took our passports, said they would give us back when we return. We signed the paper, and then brought us to Vakıflı.

Why did not you go to Latakiya you like everyone else?

Departures car went by. The remaining few people went by boat from the Karaduran. We did not catch them. My sister can not walk, we prepare our stuff instead of collecting till there was no one.

Your friend why Stalin had?

Because I was older and “I will not go, if I die, I will die here,” he said.

So many men would attack the village Did you know?

Erdogan said no but open road. “The bad guys come here,” they said. Erdogan If you kept your ways, and Karaduran Kesab would not have so many bad guys. This bearded man came from Turkey.

Deceased, who was killed Was?

Yet, because everyone was gone. There was no man to kill. We were, were not mistreated at us. Helped. For example, in our house, but the yeast did not have flour, bread could not do the last few days. When the bearded man, “Do you have food?” He asked. “Ye have food, no bread,” we said. Sent us bread. Turkish bread that was talking.

Did they hurt the village?

My uncle’s son, the apple orchard tractor to drugs drug store had prepared. I went to the house looked, took the tractor, the store also doused each side was mud. We had prepared apple cider vinegar in a large barrel, doused him; There was a barrel of diesel has cast him, they took. Chicken was set, I released them, so that they can stay open bait took. They had all entered the houses, the houses were broken door window, entered the village had no smoking house. People had put into their engines, but the way they get kick down doors. They went by car, but stood tractors. They are using them now.

Do you think Kesab return to?

Karaduran can not go there because they’re fighting. Latakiya us to you, the next you send outgoing Kesab, we go. If you might want to go to Beirut. Our sister and brother got there.

What do you think about coming to Turkey?

We were supposed to go somewhere, because now there was no one there. If we eat a morsel of bread you in this world, it will eat you.

Are you afraid of here?

We are not afraid, come from the village neighbors, we have come up missing our Go, take good care of us.

Rep. Speier: Armenian Christians Unseen Victims in Syrian Civil War

April 3, 2014 By administrator

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City) issued the following statement today after recent attacks against Armenian Christians in Kessab, Syria, forced about 2,000 people to flee their homes.

“Armenians are once again being forced to leave their homes as Syria’s civil war rages on and Turkey meddles in the war-torn country’s affairs. The small village of Kessab was a safe haven for this Christian community, but now their futures are cast in great doubt as they seek refuge elsewhere, not knowing whether they will ever return home. No one should have to live in fear or leave their homes because of the faith they practice.

“Anti-Armenian violence is real but much of the world still denies it. We must open our eyes to the truth that the assault on these Christians continues almost 100 years after the Armenian genocide that left nearly l.5 million dead. The U.S. must launch formal inquiries into Turkey’s role and whether this is al-Qaeda-linked aggression.”

U.S. Representative Speier is one of two Armenian Americans serving in Congress.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier represents California’s 14th Congressional District, which includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties. She is a senior member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). In her role on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the Congresswoman is a ranking member on the Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care, and Entitlements and serves on the Subcommittee on National Security. She serves on the Readiness Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on HASC and is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

Over 1,000 Sydney Armenians gather in #SaveKessab protest

April 3, 2014 By administrator

April 3, 2014 – 09:05 AMT

Sydney Armenians gathered in what was one of the world’s biggest #SaveKessab protests, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (AYF Australia). Over 1,000 activists, mostly youth, demanded that Turkey be held responsible for allowing access to Syrian rebels, who invaded the Armenian-populated town of Kessab in Syria last month, ANC International reported.

The ABC and Channel 10 covered the protest on network television, while SBS Radio, ABC Radio and 2GB ensured it echoed on Australia’s airwaves. A social media drive drew Twitter and Facebook support from Federal Member of Parliament and Australia’s former Defense Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, and Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, Rev. Fred Nile.

Protesters were angered that Turkey, after committing the still-unpunished Armenian Genocide in 1915, could once again be responsible for the persecution of civilian Armenians, living peacefully in Kessab over centuries.

“It is simply unacceptable,” said AYF Australia chairperson, Aram Tufenkjian. “In this day and age, we cannot sit idly by while Turkey continues its unrepentant persecution of Armenians and other minorities.”

He added: “It is clear that until Turkey is held to account for the Armenian Genocide, it will continue to invade and persecute Armenians. We are here to hold them to account, to demand justice, and to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Kessab, who have been forced to flee their homes.”

The large crowd, which included students from Galstaun College and members of the Armenian Apostolic and Armenian Catholic clergy, chanted: “Turkey is guilty, Turkey must pay!”, “1915. Never Again!”, “Get your hands of Kessab!”, “Democracy. Ha Ha!”, “Shame, Turkey, Shame”.

Speakers included members of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) and AYF Australia, while a letter from students of Galstaun College was hand-delivered to the Turkish Consul General of NSW through the Australian Federal Police in attendance.

There was a small Turkish counter-protest, which consisted of members of the local community attempting to disrupt the Armenian protest by blowing on whistles.

ANC Australia Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian said: “Our protest is not against the Turkish people of Australia, it is held at the Consulate because we are protesting against a government with blood on its hands. The blood of our ancestors, whose murders they deny was committed by their predecessors. And the blood of Kessab Armenians, who have lost their homes to flee slaughter due to Turkey allowing extremists into the region through its border.”

Photo: ANC International

US Representatives introduce resolution against Turkey’s ban on Twitter and Youtube

April 2, 2014 By administrator

Tolga TANIŞ WASHINGTON / Hürriyet

The U.S. Congress resolutions condemning Turkey have been increasing recently with Turkey’s ban on social websites Twitter and YouTube.

Four members of the U.S. House of the Representatives on April 1 prepared a resolution calling on Turkey to remove the bans on the social media, following a condemnation from two U.S. Senators last month over blocking the social media sites and a complaint letter sent to President Barrack Obama.

Ranking Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee Anna Eshoo, and three key members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Reps. Tom Marino (R-Penn.), Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) and Bill Keating (D-Mass.), introduced a resolution on April 1 calling on the Turkish government to remove its block on Twitter and YouTube.

“Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are foundational pillars to any functioning democracy,” Eshoo said. “Social media, such as Twitter and YouTube, has enhanced these pillars serving as transformational instruments for social policy change to billions of people who use them on a daily basis. By introducing this resolution, we stand united against actions that restrict Internet freedom in Turkey and around the world.”

“In these modern times, open access to the Internet has become essential for individuals to engage in free expression,” said Marino, who serves as Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats. “For this reason, the U.S. Congress must encourage our partners in Turkey to restore access to social media outlets and the Internet as a whole in order to preserve this fundamental civil right. The resolution we are introducing today will send an important message that Turkey not only must restore access to Twitter and YouTube, but more broadly protect its citizens’ rights to express themselves, assemble peacefully, and allow for a free and fair press to flourish.”

“In today’s world, Twitter and other social media outlets are critical vehicles by which millions of ordinary citizens access the political process and engage with their elected officials. By restricting these basic freedoms, the Turkish government is threatening the foundation its democracy rests on,” said Kennedy.

Moscow urges UNSC to discuss Syrian rebels’ siege of Christian town of Kessab

April 2, 2014 By administrator

April 01, 2014

RT Russia urged the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in Syria’s Christian majority town of Kessab, after Al-Qaeda-linked militants reportedly attacked the town, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

“The UN Security Council should discuss the situation in Kessab and give it a principled evaluation,” it stated. “We condemn extremists’ actions in Syria. We believe that the Syrian government and the opposition should join efforts to eradicate terrorism on the Syrian land.”

On March 21, jihadists reportedly crossed into Syria from Turkey and seized the town in Latakia province, home to over 2,000 ethnic Armenians. The attack caused hundreds of local families, mainly Armenian, to flee their homes and seek shelter in the city of Latakia.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry noted that there were no military objects on the attacked territory and added that the only fault of the families, who were forced to flee, was their loyalty to Syria’s government.

Syria’s permanent representative to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, told RT Arabic that Syria is hoping the UN will help resolve the situation in Kessab. In the past week, Syria sent five letters to the UN Security Council and the General Secretary. “These letters contain detailed information about Turkish direct involvement in the crisis by providing protection to terrorist groups that are operating in the Kessab area,” Jaafari said.

He further added that military groups managed to get to Kessab under the cover of Turkish artillery strikes, Turkish aviation, and tanks, which were all used as a distraction.

“This allowed the terrorists to avoid direct clashes with the Syrian army…unleashed [the terrorists’] hands to carry out their heinous, unspeakable crimes.”

Earlier, the Armenian government also called on the UN to protect Kessab, evoked the Armenian genocide of 1915, and accused Turkey of allowing jihadists cross its border to attack Kessab. In turn, Ankara slammed the accusations and condemned the charge as “confrontational political propaganda.”

The attack on Kessab was reportedly carried out by fighters from the Al-Nusra Front, an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group in Syria, and the Islamist Ahrar al-Sham brigade, part of the Islamic Front alliance.

Earlier this week, the Syrian army launched an operation to force the militants out of the town.

The situation escalated on March 23 when Turkey shot down a Syrian Air Force jet at the Kessab crossing. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the plane was intercepted after it violated his country’s airspace.

In response, Damascus accused Ankara of “blatant aggression,” saying the fighter jet had been over Syria. The Syrian pilot said a Turksih aircraft fired a missile at him while he was pursuing terrorists within Syrian territories, SANA news agency reported.

Turkey Charges Launched Against Gülen Intel Chief

April 1, 2014 By administrator

Criminal charges are being brought against Ali Fuat Yılmazer, the intelligence chief behind the investigations which preceded the Ergenekon and other trials.
Sun, 30 Mar 2014
Aydinlikdaily The lawyers of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan have launched a criminal complaint Ali Fuat Yılmazer, the former intelligence official in charge of the Ergenekon, Balyoz and Oda TV operations. A travel ban has also been placed on Yılmazer.
Yılmazer, the former intelligence chief for Istanbul, appeared on the Bugün TV channel last week to make a series of accusations against PM Erdoğan regarding the Ergenekon and other plots, saying that the arrests of defendants in those cases were made with Erdoğan’s full knowledge and support. He also revealed that the decisions regarding those arrests were made by members of the Gülen Gang who had infiltrated the police department.

It was confirmed this year that the trials in question were a conspiracy against certain members of the Armed Forces and intellectuals who opposed the AKP and Gülen Gang, who were at that time in alliance. The evidence against the hundreds of defendants in these trials was found to have been fabricated. After open conflict broke out between the AKP government and the Gülen Gang in December 2013, these trials again became used politically, this time by the AKP to discredit their Gülenist rivals, who they accused of being fully and solely responsible for the plot. In this context, Yılmazer’s accusations are particularly inflammatory as they claim that Erdoğan was an equal partner in the sham trials.
After Yılmazer’s revelations prompted the legal action and travel ban against him, the prosecutor’s office in Ankara made a statement disputing his claims, stressing that they did not reflect the truth and that the Prime Minister does not have the authority to have anyone arrested.
The criminal complaint against Yılmazer points out the illegality of calling citizens to make statements and then arresting those people, a practice used by the investigating officials in the Ergenekon case et al. One of the best-known examples of this practice was in the arrest of former Turkish Chief of Staff İlker Başbuğ, who was called to make a statement before being arrested and jailed in 2012. The criminal complaint also points out that Yılmazer’s admission on television that he and his associates had made the arrests constituted a confession to a crime.

Source: aydinlikdaily.com

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund launches campaign to help #savekessab Armenians

April 1, 2014 By administrator

April 01, 2014 | 14:19

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has applied to Armenians worldwide to support Armenians in Kessab.
“Dear compatriots, brothers and sisters
The tragic events taking place in Kessab these days bring back memories of the most mournful times of the Armenian history. It is evident that what our compatriots face today is a humanitarian disaster. Today, we address all the individuals and organizations worldwide and call them to support the Kessab Armenian community.

A bank account to support this case has been specially opened for you to direct your resources. It is our duty to ease the pain of our compatriots and cover, to some extent, for their losses.
Please, watch out: the happening is a challenge for every single Armenian, a threat towards Armenians worldwide.

Sen. Menendez Joins Members of Congress to Condemn Kessab Attacks

April 1, 2014 By administrator

WASHINGTON—Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was joined by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Michael Grimm (R-NY), Armenian Genocide Resolution Lead Sponsors David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA) and James McGovern (D-MA) in condemning the recent attacks against the historically Armenian city of Kessab, Syria, urging the State Department to investigate the incursion and take immediate action to safeguard the vulnerable population, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

“We would like to thank Chairman Menendez and the many other Congressional defenders of human rights who have stepped forward to call the world’s urgent attention to the attacks against the predominantly Armenian population of Kessab,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We look forward to working with each of them to ensure that Turkey’s role is explicitly condemned by our government, as we continue efforts to secure the safety and return of Kessab’s civilian residents to their ancestral homes.”

In a letter to constituents sent earlier today, Chairman Menendez stated, “Like you, I am gravely concerned by reports of a March 21, 2014 attack on the predominantly Syrian Armenian town of Kessab, near the Turkish border, by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists based in Turkey. Attacks of this nature are another example of a dangerous new chapter in the violence now engulfing Syria; one where Syrian minorities are actively targeted by Islamic extremists because of their religion and ethnicity. I condemn all such attacks, including those on Armenian Christians.”

In a joint letter to President Obama, Representatives Pallone, Grimm, Valadao and Schiff echoed these concerns, noting “When coupled with a mass exodus of the Armenian community, these events are far too reminiscent of the early days of the Armenian Genocide, which took place nearly 100 years ago in Ottoman Turkey under the cover of World War I.” The letter goes on to state, “With the Christian Armenian community being uprooted from its homeland, yet again, we strongly urge you to take all necessary measures without delay to safeguard the Christian Armenian community of Kessab. We also believe that now is the time to redouble America’s efforts to ensure that all minority communities at risk in the Middle East are afforded greater protection.”

Senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Brad Sherman stated that he has “been in contact with the State Department and have urged them to take the necessary actions to assist the Armenians in Syria. Turkey must take immediate action to help prevent extremist attacks on Armenian civilians.”

Rep. James McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, explained, “I strongly condemn the brutal attacks on the Armenian-populated town of Kessab by al-Qaeda affiliated armed bands.” He went on to note that he is “deeply concerned by the reports that these attacks allegedly originated in Turkey and demand that the United States and international community conduct a thorough and critical investigation of these claims.”

Central California Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), in a letter to his constituents, wrote, “As you may know, al Qaeda-linked terrorists attacked Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian town of Kessab, Syria six days ago. These attacks are deplorable, and I have made clear to the State Department that we must determine exactly what happened and continue to work with our allies to prevent such atrocities from happening again.”

Schiff and Sherman Tweet to #SaveKessab Representatives Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman shared their concern regarding the Kessab attacks on social media today, joining with concerned Armenians around the world in an effort led by the Armenian Youth Federation to trend the hashtag #SaveKessab.

Thousands participated in the international targeted tweeting session on Friday, March 28th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm EST, to raise awareness regarding the humanitarian crisis in Kessab and Turkey’s role in the attacks.

“Urging the State Dept. to help Armenians in Syria. Turkey must take immediate action to help prevent attacks on Armenians. #SaveKessab,” tweeted Rep. Sherman, echoing his earlier statement.

“The vicious attacks by al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists against Armenians & other Christians in #Kessab are beyond appalling. #SaveKessab,” stated Rep. Schiff.

State Department “Deeply Troubled” by Kessab Attacks In a statement followed by an question and answer session during the daily State Department press briefing on Friday, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf explained, “we are deeply troubled by recent fighting and violence that is endangering the Armenian community in Kasab, Syria and has forced many to flee. There are far too many innocent civilians suffering as a result of the war. All civilians, as well as their places of worship, must be protected.” Harf continued to note, ” We have long had concerns about the threat posed by violent extremists and this latest threat to the Armenian community in Syria only underscores this further.”

Over the past week, thousands of Armenian Americans have contacted President Obama and their Senators and Representatives in response to an ANCA Action Alert (http://www.anca.org/savekessab) urging immediate condemnation of the attacks against the civilian population of Kessab and, specifically, Turkey’s role in facilitating those attacks.

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 21st, extremist foreign fighters launched a vicious attack on Kessab civilians, forcing them to flee neighboring Latakia and Bassit.

Text of Pallone-Grimm-Valadao-Schiff Letter to President Obama Regarding Kessab

March 28, 2014

The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding credible reports that Islamist rebels entering from Turkey this past weekend were involved in attacks in the Latakia region of Syria, specifically the town of Kessab, which is a predominately Armenian populated area. Such actions shock the conscious and must be resoundingly condemned.

As the Wall Street Journal reported on March 26th, “For Armenian-Syrians from the town of Kassab [sic] in Latakia, which rebels overran this weekend, the Turkish involvement reminded them of a dark chapter in their history: the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman empire in 1915.” These tragic developments are accompanied by disturbing reports of Armenian homes being looted and occupied. When coupled with a mass exodus of the Armenian community, these events are far too reminiscent of the early days of the Armenian Genocide, which took place nearly 100 years ago in Ottoman Turkey under the cover of World War I.

At the beginning of the 20th century, nearly 6,000 Armenians lived in Kessab. However, the July 1915 deportation of the Armenian population at the hands of the Ottoman Turks resulted in the loss of nearly 5,000 lives. Now, ninety-nine years after their initial deportation, another expulsion of Armenians is a telling reminder about the dangers of genocide denial and Turkey’s failure to address its genocidal legacy.

With the Christian Armenian community being uprooted from its homeland, yet again, we strongly urge you to take all necessary measures without delay to safeguard the Christian Armenian community of Kessab. We also believe that now is the time to redouble America’s efforts to ensure that all minority communities at risk in the Middle East are afforded greater protection.

Thank you for considering this urgent request.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR. Member of Congress

MICHAEL GRIMM Member of Congress

ADAM SCHIFF Member of Congress

DAVID VALADAO Member of Congress

Hundreds Protest Turkey’s Role in Kessab Attacks #savekessab

April 1, 2014 By administrator

LOS ANGELES—On Friday, March 28, hundreds of activists gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles to protest Turkey’s role in recent attacks against civilians in Kessab, Syria. The protest was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation and the Kessab Educational Association.

Civilians in Kessab were forced to flee their homes following attacks by al-Qaeda-linked groups on March 21.Turkey reportedly allowed hundreds of radical foreign fighters to cross its border and attack the civilian population, which includes over 2,000 Christian Armenians whose ancestors survived the Armenian Genocide. Armenian homes and churches were systematically desecrated and looted by the invaders. Some reports stated that injured extremists were returning to Turkey for medical treatment.

Protesters urged President Obama to condemn Turkey’s actions and demand that Turkey stop aiding the invaders immediately. The protest was paired with a social media campaign to bring attention and awareness to the atrocities taking place in Kessab facilitated by the Turkish government.

Social media users addressed the Kessab crisis using the hashtag #SaveKessab. The campaign began at 12 p.m. on Friday and continued throughout the weekend. AYF regions across the world contributed via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The social media campaign found success on Facebook, as the hashtag continues to trend today. On Twitter, there are nearly 100,000 tweets containing the hashtag, with an estimated reach of about 40 million people. Some high-profile tweets by Kim and Khloe Kardashian, The Game, Travis Barker, and Chris Martin also helped bring light to the campaign.

Councilmen Paul Krikorian (Los Angeles) and Jack Hadjinian (Montebello) addressed the crowd at the protest and called for Turkey to stop helping the al-Qaeda-linked forces. Armenian Bar Association chairman Garo Ghazarian highlighted the crisis facing Kessab Armenians and urged the community to come together in support of the displaced. Garo Ghazourian, Alique Cherchian and Alik Ourfalian delivered the AYF’s message.

The Armenian Youth Federation asks that all individuals posting about Kessab with #SaveKessab ensure that they use correct and factual information as to not discredit the campaign. Please make sure to conduct research on the photos, videos and statements being used to make sure that they are from the recent occurrences. Facts are what has made this campaign persevere. Let us educate ourselves in order to educate others.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the United States, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian-American youth.