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Kurdish Leaders Condemn Attack on Kessab

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BRUSSELS (ANP)—The Kurdistan People`s Congress (KONGRA-GEL), in a statement released on Monday, strongly condemned the terror attacks against the Armenian community in Kessab, Syria, and declared full support kessab-smoke-2to the Armenian people.

Beginning on March 21, the Armenian and Alawite population in Kessab was attacked by jihadist terror organizations linked to Al-Qaida, who forced the local inhabitants to flee the city.

“We are deeply concerned by the terror attacks against Armenian civilians in Kessab region in Syria. We have always shared their pain, suffering and the sensitive situation they are inside. We declare full solidarity with Armenian people and all the targeted communities, including Alawites,” says the Kurdish organization KONGRA-GEL, which is a congress assembly for nearly all Kurdish organizations from the northern part of Kurdistan Region (Turkey) and in the Kurdish diaspora. KONGRA-GEL and Union of Communities in Kurdistan (KCK) have millions of supporters, several military wings and control 103 municipalities in Kurdistan, including 36 members of parliament in the Turkish parliament. KONGRA-GEL also has sister organizations in other parts of Kurdistan, like PYD in Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan), which is today in daily confrontation with jihadist terror organizations.

The Kurdistan People`s Congress (KONGRA-GEL) underlined in its statement that up to the present moment there has not been any violence between the people in the region. “The recent attacks are committed by foreign terrorist elements which benefit from the essential logistic and moral support of the Turkish authorities.”

In this regard, Kessab, which has been populated by Armenians before and after the Armenian genocide of 1915, is seen as a symbol of the tragic Armenian history of deportations and massacres. “It preserves the freshness of still painful memories,” says the statement.

The recent attacks in Kessab are made by the terrorist organizations under the name of “Anfal campaign,” as in cleansing of non-Muslim population. The same term and methods of “Anfal” has been used by Saddam Hussein against the Kurdish population in today’s Federal Kurdistan (Iraq). According to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), 182 thousands civilians lost their lives as victims of that campaign.

U.S. Congressmen hold press conference on Kessab (video) #savekessab

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PanARMENIAN.Net – With the U.S. Capitol looming large in the background, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) led a Congressional press conference condemning the forced 177801depopulation of the historically Armenian city of Kessab, Syria by al Qaeda affiliated terrorists aided and abetted by neighboring Turkey, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Congressman Schiff was joined by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Brad Sherman (D-CA), as well as ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian in calling for increased U.S. leadership in assisting those displaced and investigating Turkey’s role in facilitating the attack.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian thanked each of the legislators taking part in the news conference, stressing that: “These attacks came from Turkey, with the clear support of the Turkish military. We should have a zero-tolerance policy for any NATO ally working with Al-Qaeda-linked groups to attack religious minorities. It’s for this reason, that we support calls upon the House and Senate intelligence committees to investigate Turkey’s role in the attack on Kessab. We deserve to know if our allies – and possibly our arms – are being turned against Christians in the Middle East,” concluded Hamparian.

“Since the war began, I have continually raised my concern over the dangers facing Syrians of Armenian descent and other Christians,” explained Rep. Schiff. “I have spoken to the President about this directly, questioned our ambassador to the United Nations about this just last week, and urged the Appropriations Committee, on which I sit, to devote time, attention and resources to aiding Syria’s Christian community. In fact, this afternoon, I will be asking USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah about our efforts to reach the Christian communities still inside Syria.” Rep. Schiff went on to point out that “Many of the residents of Kessab are descendants of victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. There is particular poignancy to their being targeted in this manner, almost a century after the start of the genocide.”

Rep. Sherman was direct in his call for an investigation into Turkey’s role in the Kessab attacks. “I want to join with several of my colleagues in urging that the intelligence community and the State Department provide a classified briefing on what was Turkey’s role in assisting and providing shelter to al Qaeda linked terrorists who carried out this ethnic cleansing of the town of Kessab,” explained Rep. Sherman. “I also urge the State Department to go further than acknowledging a terrible situation and provide us with a clear, and I think it would have to be classified, description of how an Al-Qaeda linked group was able to enter Syria from Turkey, on a mission of ethnic cleansing, ” concluded Rep. Sherman.

“Over the past three years, the Syrian Christians have paid a high price in this civil war, and up until the last month, Kessab has been a safe haven for those seeking refuge,” noted Rep. Costa. “What’s even more troubling for me is the reports that the Turkish government has aided these terrorists by supplying them military support and supplies. And that’s why, I think it is incumbent upon those of us in Congress who care deeply about this issue, to provide the leadership, to speak out, and to ensure that our government provides the accountability necessary to get to the bottom of this.”

“I can’t help but think, ‘here we are again,” began Rep. Anna Eshoo. “Wherever there has been war across the Middle East, Christians have been targeted and have suffered enormously. And the recent rebel assault on the northern Syrian town of Kessab is yet another sad, sad chapter in what is taking place in the Middle East. And make no mistake, these communities, in this case the Armenians, are targeted because they are Christians and now they are residents on the chessboard of international politics. And as we anticipate almost the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide – it’s like ripping a scab off a wound. It runs very deep, it runs very broad,” concluded Congresswoman Eshoo.

“We see time and time again that it is the Christian minority, including the Armenian community, that is especially vulnerable,” noted Rep. Chu. “This was made tragically clear last month when Islamic militants from Turkey crossed the Syrian Turkish border and attacked the community in Kessab. It’s a city of refuge for Armenians fleeing the Armenian Genocide. It’s where Armenian Genocide survivors started a new life. This city served as a refuge for Syrian Armenians escaping the violence in Aleppo. Seeing this violence now is an unspeakable tragedy. […] Let’s return Kessab to a place of hope that it has been for the Armenian community for so many years,” concluded Rep. Chu.

“I think the U.S. has to be more involved in providing more help for not only Armenians but other Christians in Syria who are basically being harassed and persecuted and forced from their homes, because of the civil war,” explained Congressman Pallone. “One of the things that we did was that we wrote to the Appropriators and asked that sufficient help be given to the Armenians and other Christians for humanitarian purposes, because we know that while this incident, Kessab, is probably the most horrendous right now, there are other Armenians and Christians throughout Syria that had to flee their homes, that had been killed, and subject to loss of property and all sorts of other problems because of the civil war.”

France: Armenian, Assyrian-Chaldeans, Syriacs and Greeks in memory of the victims of the 1915 genocide

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This Sunday, April 6, memorial day of the genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda, Eastern Christians, on the initiative of the Armenian Institute of France, chaired by Antoine Armenian and greek genocideBagdikian, gathered in one heart in memory of the victims of 1915 genocide perpetrated on the orders of the Ottoman Young Turk government.

The ecumenical service is given for this second edition in the Saint-Denis Basilica, brought together Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs and Greeks, Apostolic, Catholic and Orthodox rites before an audience of nearly 700 people and personalities, such as His Excellency Viguen Tchitetchian Ambassador of Armenia in France, Mr. Apostolas BALTAS First Counsellor of the Embassy of Greece, Ms. PAPATRIANTAFYLLOU Second Counsellor of the Embassy of Greece, Helena MINA First Counsellor of the Embassy of Cyprus, as well as M . LUSIGNAN Philippe Roux, descendant of King Leo V of Cilicia ..

Choir of the Orthodox Church of Antioch Greque

Each community sang and prayed in his tongue in a huge wave of solidarity and strong emotions triggered by choirs consist mainly children, in memory of the 1.5 million Armenians, 250,000 Assyrians and Chaldeans, Syriacs and 100 000 300 Pontic Greeks exterminated 000 between 1915 and 1923.

The surprise came from the mouth of Father Manuel RACHO-Hovanessian, representing the RP Mesrop BARSAMIAN which, in a firm and long sermon, repeating and paraphrasing the inquiry of the Pharisees denounced with extreme force carelessness community International before the drama unfolding in Syria.

Every first Sunday of April, all of these communities will come together to make themselves known and to create a movement to better know how to defend against the destruction of the Christian heritage still continue with such aggression in the city Kessab Syrian territory by Islamists came and encouraged by laTurquie.

Read below for speech Antoine Bagdikian, Philippe Haroutounian and Daniel Augustus for Assyro-Chaldeans.

Jean Eckian + photos

Armenian MP calls on PACE to denounce Turkey

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Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group member Arpine Hovhannisyan addressed the events in Syria’s Kessab in her speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of paceEurope (PACE).

Addressing the major issue, Ms Hovhannisyan dwelt on Turkey’s role in the events. She mentioned the concept of “state sponsors of terrorism” created by US partners. This expression describes Turkey’s nature very well. Turkey is nearing the date marking the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The Kessab Armenians narrowly escaped genocide.

Surely, Turkey pursued other goals as well. To achieve them, Turkey turned to terrorists and even supported them. The recently leaked records of meetings of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization have proved that the country’s security services planned an attack on the Tomb of Suleyman Shah for Turkey to intervene militarily inside Syria. Like in the aforementioned case, Turkey intended to seek support of extremist networks.

As to what PACE should do to protect European values, Ms Hovhannisyan asked PACE if it is ready to call one of its members to account. European must stop pretending that nothing has ever happened.

The Armenian MP called for denouncing and preventing such actions with a view to ensuring an age when crimes against humanity will never be committed.

Aleppo Armenian buildings face fresh bomb attacks

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The Armenian-populated districts in Syria’s economic capital have come under fresh bomb attacks as the country continues facing armed tensions between Islamist militants and government alepoforces.

A local news outlet says in Facebook post that 40 mortar mines and a missile exploded in the city, hitting also building roofs in the Armenian districts.

The blasts have left the population in panic. They are said to have also caused a huge material damage.

OSCE Minsk Group readying meeting of Armenian, Azeri leaders

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April 5, 2014 – 12:11 AMT

177673 The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor Popov, Jacques Faure, James Warlick, and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk met with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammedyarov in Moscow.

The parties focused on preparation for an oncoming meeting of the Armenian and Russian Presidents.

According to the statement issued after the meeting, the mediators urged the Foreign Ministers to reassert their adherence to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. As the statement noted, the parties accepted the importance of a progress in peace talks, with the co-chairs stressing the significance of taking concrete steps to decrease tensions and promote settlement.

Previous meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Igor and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Personal Representative with Nalbandian took place March 11 in Moscow.

The meeting focused on further steps for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, with the Co-chairs briefing Nalbandian on the results of the Paris meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.

As Warlick said in his Tweeter post upon completion of the meeting, “talks with FM Nalbandian in Moscow confirm that Armenia seeks a peaceful settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. Will pursue options for dialogue.”

Mammadyarov met with OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman on March 10, Elman Abdullayev said.

The meeting was attended by the OSCE MG Co-chairs and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Personal Representative. At the meeting, the parties expressed concern over the non-settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

According to Abdullayev, Mammadyarov reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s willingness to sign a comprehensive peace agreement in case Armenian troops are withdrawn from Karabakh-adjacent territories.

In an interview with APA, Russian Co-chair Igor Popov pointed out positive aspects in the conflict settlement talks. However, he said, approximation of positions remains a hard task.

“After a long break, another meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held in Vienna on November 19, 2013. They discussed a range of issues on the settlement of Karabakh problem. The two sides decided to accelerate the process of negotiations. The main directions that require special attention were determined.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs were given relevant instructions, consultations were carried out on the basis of the instructions. Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian met twice. The most contentious issues were discussed in details at these meetings. The negotiations show that there are positive aspects. However, it is not so easy to bring closer the positions of the parties.

Difficulties in the negotiation process correspond to the complexity of the conflict. The parties intend to move forward. We are currently conducting consultations with our French and American colleagues, ministers separately.

We met with Nalbandian on February 22. We plan to meet Mammadyarov in the near future. If we achieve options that will satisfy the parties, joint meetings will be accessible, first at the ministerial level, and then the issue of summit will be considered, as agreed by the presidents in Vienna. We will continue our consultations in the region,” Popov said.

Photo: James Warlick’s Twitter Page

Turkey Antalya nightmare of Armenian citizens

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Anjelika Meliksizy, about an Armenian living in Turkey for 13 years. Married three years ago with his wife still lives in Antalya. Armenia in Antalya with her son for being subjected to attacks Meliksizy stated that his son’s school, nm_IMG_8713_JPG_1238he was forced to leave the work place events described.

When we lived in Istanbul to Antalya after moving encountered no difficulties, but that the start of the attack and is now said to be unable to live in the city Meliksizy, the beginning of the last of the recalls: “My son, 75 Year studying at Republic High School. The first time was fine, but then started to say that you do not want to go to school. History teacher instigated against him by other children constantly and eventually beaten by classmates told. Does not want to go to school anymore. I went and talked to hocayla. I asked him to prevent this type of thing. Then they beat my child in the school toilet. On top of that we’ve not stand any more and I sent my son to Armenia compulsory again. ”

‘Very lonely’

Meliksizy work while exposed to attack the discriminatory workplace, explains: “I’m working in the workshop of a jeweler in the city center of Antalya. Constantly full front door of my business, citing various campaigns show ‘Liar Armenians’ he are collecting signatures. All day I have to work in such an environment. I was having these problems since I came to Antalya. When the slightest problem at work ‘you get out the Armenians in their own country, this is not your lands, “he will answer. I had to leave at the end of work. ”

Make an application to the prosecutor or the police said that Meliksizy, a highly desperate situation: “It was an attack in Istanbul four years ago. Then when I went to the police “What will be such things are happening every day,” he responded. Foreigners Department also treated different than indicating whether the Anjelika Meliksizy, “the child’s school to go to an identification number that they needed to give, to do this operation fully took six months,” he expressed his feelings are: “the police when you get something that will not change, I know. Very lonely. “

CSTO Foreign Ministers issue statement on Kessab events

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April 4, 2014 – 12:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – At their meeting in Moscow on Thursday, April 3, the foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) voiced deep concern over the dramatic deterioration of the situation in the 177648northwest of Syria after clashes between government troops and al-Qaeda-linked extremist groups, which resulted in the loss of life and forced relocation of thousands of people from the Armenian-populated city of Kessab, ITAR-TASS reported.

“We strongly condemn the acts of terror and the use of force against the peaceful population,” the ministers said in a statement. “We call for stopping the violence as soon as possible and ensuring the safe return of refugees. We are convinced that the situation can be normalised only by excluding external interference and violence and by conducting a broad political dialogue that will take into account the interests of all Syrians regardless of their ethnic or religious background,” the document said.

The ministers urged all parties interested and concerned to act in strict compliance with international law in order to stop the bloodshed and achieve a political settlement in Syria in accordance with the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012.

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. 

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

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WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City) issued the following statement today after recent attacks against Armenian Christians in jackie-speierKessab, 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.