Life in Kessab slowly returns to normal – official

September 8, 2014 By administrator

The situation in Syria has not changed and remains unpredictable, Lusine Stepanyan, head of Armenian community department of Middle East at the Armenian Diaspora Ministry, told Panorama.am.

Speaking about Kessab Armenians’ return to their homes, the official said that work is underway in that direction.

“After the March 21 events in Kessab it is impossible to restore the town in a short time, but life is slowly returning to normal,” Mrs Stepanyan said.

She noted that several Armenian families from Kessab remain in Armenia.

“The condition of Armenians in Syria depends on the general situation in that country,” Lusine Stepanyan said.

Citing the Diaspora Ministry’s data, the official said that 40,000-45,000 Armenians remain in Syria and 12,000 Syrian Armenians have moved to Armenia.

First liturgy served in Armenian Church after liberation of Kessab

July 28, 2014 By administrator

On July 25 leader of Armenian Diocese of Berio St. Shahan archbishop Sargsyan has reanointed the Armenian St. Astvatsatsin Church in Kessab’s Garaturan region, reports the Facebook page of “Gandzasar” weekly.

In July 27 Holy Father has served the first liturgy after the liberation of Kessab. There were many people present at the liturgy.

Lattakia Governor, Armenian Ambassador Meet over Kessab

July 2, 2014 By administrator

DAMASCUS, Syria—Lattakia Governor Ahmad Sheikh Abdelqader on Tuesday discussed with Armenian Ambassador in Damascus Arshak Poladian the situation in the city of Kessab, SANA reported.

The Governor detailed the scale of the destruction caused to the city by rebel groups, suggesting that Armenia could provide aid to restore the city, particularly in light of the economic embargo imposed on Syria.

Sheikh Abdelqader said that basic services and infrastructure have been 70 percent restored in Kessab, noting that the rebels stole power transformers and water pumps and sabotaged wells, phone equipment, and the town’s health center.

He added that supplies have been provided for the town in preparation for the locals’ return, noting that the government will help local farmers by providing free pesticides and reimbursing them for stolen and damaged farm machinery.

In turn, Poladian affirmed Armenia’s condemnation of all forms of terrorism, asserting that Syria has always been a home for Armenians throughout history.

He affirmed his country’s readiness to help the town of Kessab and its people. This is Poladian’s second visit to the town of Kessab to inspect the situation there.

Syria, Desecrated relics of Kessab

June 25, 2014 By administrator

Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group militants raided the Armenian Evangelical Holy Trinity Church and Missakian Cultural Center in Kessab.

L’observatoire de la Christianophobie French website posted the photos of destroyed and desecrated churches of Kessab after liberation of the town.

June 25, 2014

On March 21, 2014, Turkish forces shelled Armenian-populated villages of Syria in violation of international laws, further opening the border for militants to seize the region. Along with the surrounding Armenian-populated villages, Kessab, a home to 2,5-3000 Armenians, is located near the Syrian-Turkish border. After Kessab was seized, militants tore off the cross from an Armenian church, replacing it with a black Islamist flag.

On June 16, the top commandment of Syrian armed forces stated that stability in Kessab and adjacent province of Latakia was restored and the extremist militants pushed out, with the terrorist attempt to form a springboard for attacks with a sea outlet at the Turkish border thwarted.

At present, houses and streets of Kessab are fully demined, with utility services operating and electricity supplies restored. According to mayor Vasken Chaparian, 250 out of 600 Armenian families who left the town are back, restoring Armenian presence in the lands of the historic Cilicia. Earlier, at the meeting with the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad promised that Kessab Armenians will return to their homes and was true to his word.

Following the Kessab tragedy, Armenians and Alawites accused the Prime Minister Erdogan-led Turkish government of triggering the attack. Armenians who fled to Latakia told the BBC Turkish Service about the attack which forced them to leave their homes.

“One morning we were woken up by loud explosions and had to flee to Kessab at once, with no clothes, money or passports. We just wanted to survive,” a female resident of Kessab recalls. Some Armenians stayed in Kessab, only sending women and children to Latakia.

“We’re afraid to go back, though we’ve been told its safe now. Still, 7 Armenians and 2 Alawites went missing, with their fates unknown. Who will give us safety guarantees? I saw an Armenian church raided, stripped of decorations, icons and burned down. All the museum artifacts were destroyed,” a priest named Gevorg reminisced.

Kessab self-defense units and Hezbollah Syrian Shiite group participated in the liberation of the town, Ora Pro Siria reported citing the patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni.

At his visit to a church of St. Michael, the patriarch saw ruined icons, broken crosses, burnt liturgy books, with the place rendered unusable for religious services. According to the patriarch, Islamists’ only goal was to prevent the church from being used as a house of prayer. The parochial school was also demolished.

Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group militants raided the Armenian Evangelical Holy Trinity Church and Missakian Cultural Center in Kessab.

Nerses Bedros XIX hopes that the majority of refugees will return to their homes in Kessab.

Karine Ter-Sahakian / PanARMENIAN.Net, Photo: Fraternità Maria Gabriella

France: First contribution to the reconstruction Kessab

June 19, 2014 By administrator

Armenian city Kessab, Syria, is released. The jihadists occupying forces put out of the city infrastructure, especially schools and places of worship. The Armenian Fund of France sends a first sum for for reconstruction.

Following the release of Kessab, the Armenian population of the city gradually returning to their homes as and when demining operations. However, destruction and depredations are numerous and educational facilities are decommissioned.

Responding to the call of the Armenian population Kessab transmitted by voice Catholicosate of Cilicia, the Armenian Fund of France transfers this day the sum of € 50,000 for the reconstruction of these schools. The allocation will be decided by the Unit Council established in Syria, according to the needs on the spot, under the control of Catholicosate of Cilicia.

To date, the Armenian Fund of France had transferred € 150,000 for educational institutions Aleppo and a sum of € 50,000 for refugees Kessab. With this new support, in total € 250,000 have been so transferred in favor of the Armenians of Syria. On their behalf, the Armenian Fund of France warmly thanks all donors.

These amounts are unfortunately not sufficient to meet the needs of the Armenian population of Syria, even today, is subjected to intensive bombing, which claimed many victims especially in Aleppo.

Also, the Armenian Fund launches France again an urgent appeal for donations and solidarity to support this population sister. Our duty is to help the Armenians wherever their survival is threatened. The Armenian Fund of France is counting on your generosity.

Armenian Fund of France.

Donations can be made to our fondsarmenien.org, or by check, payable to the Armenian Fund of France, BP 12, 75660, Paris cedex 14. Donors receive tax deductions required by law.

PRESS RELEASE June 19, 2014

Thursday, June 19, 2014,
Ara © armenews.co

Mayor says 250 families returned to Kessab

June 17, 2014 By administrator

June 17, 2014 | 13:39

The mayor of Kessab, a town mainly populated by Armenians, said 250 families had already come back to the town after it was liberated by the Syrian army.

Vaskin Jabiryan said the rest are waiting for rehabilitation of infrastructure to return to their homes, SANA reported.

The governor of Latakia mobilized all city services to accelerate rehabilitation of infrastructure. During his visit to Kessab, the governor inspected all districts and assessed the damage caused by terrorist groups.

Syria Kessab photos and news after liberated

June 16, 2014 By administrator

The first images of Kessab after the disaster that has affected the Armenian population.

Damascus, June 15, 2014 7:30 p.m. (AFP) – The Syrian army has taken over the city Sunday to Armenian majority Kassab (northwest) and a strategic border crossing with Turkey, nearly three months after they fell into the hands rebels.

“Units of our armed forces, in collaboration with the forces (paramilitary) national defense restored the safety and security Kassab this morning,” the military said in a statement, confirming earlier data by television information State.

State television broadcast images then one of its journalists speaking from the border post. The chain has also accused Qatar and Turkey, supporters of the rebellion, have provided the “terrorists” (the rebels in the language of the plan) ambulances to evacuate their wounded.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH) were reported Saturday evening that “most of the fighters of al-Nosra Front and Islamic brigades had retreated Kassab, leaving behind a small number of fighters.”

Sunday, the NGO said the army had entered the city controlled by the rebels since March 21, but fighting continued. “The regime’s troops came to Kassab but have not taken the entire city. Fighting still oppose soldiers and rebels who remained, “said AFP Director of OSDH, Rami Abdel Rahman.

The withdrawal of most of the rebels came after “the army, supported by the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah fighters, was able to take the hills surrounding Kassab,” said Abdel Rahman. “This put the rebels in the line of sight of the army and Hezbollah,” said he added.

“There was a lack of supply and an advanced highly experienced Hezbollah and the Syrian special forces fighters,” said Abdel Rahman yet.

“The insurgents did not want to be besieged Kassab” by the army, as was the case in several localities rebels brought to their knees by the army in three years of war. “They preferred to withdraw.” Constantly bombarded by regime forces, the border post Kassab was important for the insurgents who were carrying their wounded in Turkey, an ally of the opposition.

The Syrian regime accused Ankara of aiding the rebels seize the city, whose inhabitants Armenian majority have fled their homes since March.

Monday, June 16, 2014,
Jean Eckian © armenews.com

Syria: Kessab Liberated Update

June 15, 2014 By administrator

Damascus, June 15, 2014 (AFP) – The Syrian army rebels resumed Sunday the city Armenian majority Kassab (north-west), near a strategic border crossing with Turkey, she announced in a statement.

“Units of our armed forces, in collaboration with the forces (paramilitary) national defense restored the safety and security Kassab this morning,” said the military statement, confirming earlier data by television information State.

Sunday, the NGO said the army had entered the city to the rebels since March 21, but fighting continued.

“The regime’s troops came to Kassab but have not taken the entire city. Fighting still oppose soldiers and rebels who remained, “said AFP Director of OSDH, Rami Abdel Rahman.

The withdrawal of most of the rebels came after “the army, supported by the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah fighters, was able to take the hills surrounding Kassab,” said Abdel Rahman.

“This put the rebels in the line of sight of the army and Hezbollah,” said he added.

“There was a lack of supply and an advanced highly experienced Hezbollah and the Syrian special forces fighters,” said Abdel Rahman yet.

Constantly bombarded by regime forces, the border post Kassab was important for the insurgents who were carrying their wounded in Turkey, an ally of the opposition.

The Syrian regime accused Ankara of aiding the rebels seize the city, whose inhabitants Armenian majority have fled their homes since March.

Beirut, June 14, 2014 (AFP) – The rebels and their allies of al-Nosra Front (Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda) withdrew Saturday “Kassab”, a border city of Turkey they had conquered in March , reported the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (OSDH).

“Most fighters of al-Nosra Front and Islamic brigades withdrew from Kassab, leaving behind a small number of fighters,” said the OSDH.

Government forces for their part sent tanks into neighboring villages, signaling an imminent conquest of the city by the army. This retreat occurred while “regime’s troops supported by men of Hezbollah and other Arab and Asian fighters had advanced (in the neighboring village) Nabaein” according to the OSDH.

The information has been confirmed by opposition activists claimed that the fighters of Al-Nosra and rebel brigades had retreated to the rebel strongholds in the region of Jabal al-Akrad, near Kassab.

The Armenian community of Kassab is strategic because it is located near the single border crossing with Turkey in the province of Latakia, a stronghold of the Alawite community belongs President Bashar al-Assad.

When the border post Kassab fell to rebels in March, he was the last checkpoint on the border with Turkey still operational in the hands of the regime.

Editor’s note: Contrary to the AFP dispatch of 14 June on the basis of the OSDH, the customs post, located 6 km from Kessab, was only a pretext to attack by Al Front -Nosra, because it is not strategic. As Fabrice Ballanche (Director of Group Research and Studies on the Mediterranean and the Middle East) said in the dossier on the Kessab # 207 Armenian News Magazine, “Turkey closed the border since months and the traffic was almost nil since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. Moreover, the customs Kessab has never been very important: daily bus between Antioch and Latakia and a few cars. It is no comparison Bab el Awa or Azaz. In addition, the rebels did not need Kessab to bring weapons in Syria, they control the entire Urdu ATHMA border, northeast of Idleb, or 200 km.

Another strategic objective was put forward by the OSDH: wearing Samra (Kaladouran), which give the rebels access to the sea in Syrian territory, to be refueled in arms and ammunition. Samra’s famous port is a small harbor where fishing boats moored a few, we are far from a strategic infrastructure. And why the rebels would they need access to the sea 100 meters from the Turkish border, while receiving safe all the equipment they need via Turkey? Finally, we presented the attack as a prelude to a major offensive on the coastal region and Latakia, the stronghold of the Alawite community. This last argument does not hold either. They could very well do it from their two strongholds in the region: Jebel Jebel Akrad and Turkmen. Moreover, they know that they will not take the Alawite territory very well defended by the army and the population itself, which has everything to fear from jihadists. “Moreover, as is recalled in Fabrice Ballanche an analysis to be published in the July No. of NAM, “three months after taking Kessab the rebels had not yet advanced to Latakia, on the contrary, they were confined in the village of Kessab, having abandoned the valley the Kaladouran and Chalma heights. “ This attack of the last Armenian village in the region therefore proceeded well a willingness of ethnic cleansing carried out with at least downstream of Turkey.

delegationArmenian to NATO raises problem of Turkey’s involvement in Kessab events

June 9, 2014 By administrator

Armenia’s parliamentary delegation, which participated in a meeting of the Political Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, May 30 to June 1, raised the issue of Kessab.

Specifically, the Armenian MPs stated that Turkey, which is a NATO member, not only allowed gunmen to enter Kessab through its territory, but also provided financial aid to them.

“The Turkish representative reacted at once, saying that Turkey’s government had nothing in common with Syria developments and did not sponsor any insurgent groups, which is untrue. Numerous facts prove this [Turkey’s involvement]. Our delegation requested that NATO think of the necessary measures to prevent its member-states from resorting to such steps,” Head of the Armenian delegation Koryun Nahapetyan told reporters on Monday.

Unfortunately, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly did not respond to the Armenian delegation’s request.

Armenian delegation member, Heritage parliamentary group member Tevan Poghosyan said that the 28 NATO member-states share a common feature – not offending partners.

“Unfortunately, it is not the case in the Collective Security Treaty Organization. So we should not expect any of the NATO members to wag their finger at Turkey,” he said.

However, raising the problem was important.

Turkey: The deep state serving Syrian Islamists A direct illustration of the illusory nature of condolences to Erdogan about Armenians (Video)

May 22, 2014 By administrator

By: Laurent Leylekian
Political analyst

On the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the Genocide that struck Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, presented unpublished condolences to his fellow Armenians and Armenians worldwide. The international press has widely reported the matter, usually in a positive way and making little account of the deep malaise has provoked among the recipients of these putative condolences. I expressed myself on the semantic perversion of condolence show that indeed the usual denialist discourse.

The Syrian news just give us a confirmation that nothing has changed, except perhaps the increasingly sophisticated communication Turkey in which it encapsulates the true nature of his relationship to the Armenians and intentions towards them.

Last March, in fact , let go Turkey Islamist militia al-Jabhat Nosra – the local branch of Al Qaeda – the town of Kessab Syria, the last village of the former Western Armenia destroyed since the genocide. Face outcry over the attack on a town no strategic interest – if not precisely that to erase the last traces of Armenian presence in the region – at great expense Ankara launched a “humanitarian operation”. It was intended to “repatriate safe” in Turkey a few old remained in the village, that is if this country can be described as “safe” for the descendants of those he murdered.

A Turkish secret services officer leads a band jihadist Syria

A recently released video shows as an “Arab combatant” help some Trtrian Luther – a resident of Kessab – to gather her belongings essential for exfiltré to Turkey. Shortly after moreover, Luther Trtrian died there of a heart attack.

But according to K

urdish sources informed the alleged “Arab fighter” in question is indeed Heysem Topalca agent MIT – the Turkish secret services. This Turkmen Syria is also designated by the same source as the “brigade commander of the Turkmen district Bayırbucak” in Syria.

Two pieces of information in one, so: they are officers of the MIT – descendants in line with the sinister Special Organization was once responsible for the execution of the genocide – which still occupy the “fate” of Armenians and – secret – the Turkish state involved operationally in a war of aggression against neighboring Syria.

Protected members of al-Jabhat Nosra Turkish power

But better yet, Heysem Topalca is not exactly a stranger. Already in November 2013, the Zaman newspaper revealed that he was arrested in Adana during a routine inspection by Turkish police looking for drug trafficking. In fact, drug truck driven by Heysem Topalca contained nearly 1,000 rockets and a dozen RPG. The ensuing investigation led to the arrest of a Turkish ship carrying smuggled 20,000 Kalashnikovs to Syria by the Greek coastguard. It is this series of events and a few others which almost lead Turkey blacklist State funding terrorism described by Jonathan Schanzer .

Despite its central role in the case, Heysem Topalca was obviously released without further ado, since it is he who has appeared in recent days as the “commander of the Turkmen brigade” to Kessab. It has therefore not been bothered by the Turkish police, no more than it was six months ago as part of the investigation into the bombing Reyhanli .

Heysem Topalca, Ayhan Orli and Muhammed Abdullah (Karinca)

accused of war crimes by a Turkish journalist.

Also according to Zaman indeed, two of the suspects were then interviewed mentioned Topalca as their local contact “supporting jihadists” and able to move cargo between Reyhanlı and Yayladagi, two locations in Sanjak of Alexandretta (Turkey), the second being last resort before Kessab Syria. In order to be released, the suspects had said “we can not get closer to Reyhanlı. This area is owned by the jihadists who would kill us if they saw us. [The attack], it is certainly his work. “

Information that confirms the journalist Ömer Ödemiş saying, moreover, that Topalca Turkmen and others – including the Adil and Ayhan Orli brothers – have formed an army of 300 fighters who trained in Turkey before moving to Syria to commit all kinds of abuses. It is in this context that Adil Orli is regularly presented as the “commander of the Turkmen” , one of the countless factions operating in northern Syria. In a video of “promotion” of their movement , it actually sees Adil Orli (1’20” and 4’46” for example) and Heysem Topalca (at 1’28”) appear together.

23 March 2014 – Adil Orli (circled) and some of his supporters after taking the observatory 45

The far-right Turkish maneuvering

Information that did not seem to move more than that Turkish investigators. But in their defense, I must say that these terrorists seem to enjoy strong complicity in the deep state, although the exact map of their respective duties is not clearly established. Thus, the reporter Ömer Ödemiş – even him – says that Adil Orli is in charge of relations with the Libyan Islamist groups (including Chechens) he would arrange the transfer to Syria via Turkey.

April 14, 2014 – Adil Orli and other militant before the truck to terrorists

These clandestine activities would take place through the MHP, the Nationalist Action Party, the most famous in Turkey and well represented within the security services of the country of extreme right training. An article published on April 28 advance and traffic transits through the “idealistic home” (this is the name locals MHP) Orhangazi in the region of Bursa in western Turkey. Presented a picture dated April 14 actually shows Adil Orli posing with MHP officials before a truckload of material which, according to the article, would be to armed gangs in Syria. Other photographs from the days following the show policy relay enjoyed this “Turkmen connection” Adil Orli seems particularly good terms with Dervis Tücel, deputy mayor of Tuzla and candidate for the parliamentary seat of Istanbul, a character Article refers to as “a close friend of Mehmet Ali Agca,” the gray-wolf who once tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II.

April 17, 2014 – Adil Orli and gray wolves Pendik (Istanbul)

The role of the MHP also seems to go further than a mere conduit. And some pictures taken in Syria show Hüseyin Bozan ( Photo header ), a “gray wolf” Orli close brothers do – a weapon in his hand – the rallying cry of the movement. Moreover, the Facebook page of the Turkmen Aleppo leaves little doubt about his affiliations as his involvement in the Syrian conflict.

Ayhan Orli received at the headquarters of the Great Union Party (BBP) by its chairman

If the MHP seems an important link in the chain, it is not the only one. Other information indicates that the Islamist split – the Great Union Party (BBP) – is no exception, and more high: an undated article and shows Mustafa Destici, the Chairman of BBP, welcome to the party headquarters Ayhan Orli in the presence of his two deputies. BBP have served Orli interest in the fate of Syrian Turkmen assuring its “material and moral support.”

Ankara hand behind the manipulation of Turkmen

It is obviously difficult to deduce from these certainties fragmented information but the fact is that it is tempting to exploit Ankara Turkmen minority border Arab countries to meet its imperialist designs on northern Syria and Iraq . Nationalist parties to pantouraniennes designs are certainly dreamed operational tools for this type of operation.

In Iraq, however, the agreements reached between Turkey and Kurdish Erbil authorities about the operation and the flow of oil could eventually undermine these plots. But it is not the same in Syria, where Ankara sees anxiously form along its border a strip of land dominated by Kurds PYD, local avatar PKK.

http://eurotopie.leylekian.eu/2014/05/turquie-au-service-des-islamistes-syriens.html