The truth about Syria

[Yervant1]

16:21 26/03/2014 » SOCIETY

Karo Yuzbashyan: Armenians of Kessab can return to their homes, but not soon

The reaction of the Armenian authorities to the Kessab events lacks clarity, representative of Aleppo national authorities Nerses Sargisyan told reporters in Yerevan.
According to him, it is a national problem. “Kessab is the last remaining part of historic Armenia. So exact steps are needed especially as Turkey is directly involved in the attacks.”
Karo Yuzbashyan said for his part that the Syrian state performs its duty fully. “Kessab residents can return to their homes, but it will not be soon. It will take time for security to be established in the region.”
Nerses Sargisyan noted that the Armenian families are provided with maximum support in Latakia. “They have abandoned their homes so they are not in an easy situation. They are currently under the protection of the Syrian national authorities,” he said.
According to Karo Yuzbashyan, Kessab was attacked by Turkish detachments, and Turkmen minorities also participated in the attacks.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

17:09 26/03/2014 » POLITICS

Armenian MPs are in Latakia

The delegation of Armenian MPs is already in Latakia, secretary of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary faction Hovhannes Sahakyan told Panorama.am.
“I have just spoken to Arman Sahakyan. He said that the Armenian delegation is already in Latakia and that Armenia’s Ambassador to Syria is also with them. They will soon meet with the Armenian families. So everything is ok,” the MP said.
The Armenian parliamentary delegation includes Republican MPs Samvel Farmanyan, Levon Martirosyan, Arman Sahakyan and Naira Karapetyan, Heritage MP Tevan Poghosyan and independent MP Edmon Marukyan. The MPs will familiarize themselves with the situation on the spot and present it to the National Assembly upon their return.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

15:35 26/03/2014 » POLITICS

Manucharyan: Turks attacked Kessab by instruction of some forces

On the threshold of the Armenian Genocide centenary, it is not advantageous for Turkey to attack the Armenian-populated town of Kessab in Syria, given the fact that over the several past years Turkey has tried to show the international community that it is normalizing relations with Armenia, member of Karabakh committee Ashot Manucharyan told reporters.
According to Manucharyan, this situation is not beneficial for Turkey and Ankara acts under the pressure of some forces.
“Our society should remember exactly who provoked Turkey’s incursion into Syria,” Manucharyan said, adding that the United States demanded that Turkey interfere into the Syrian conflict.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

CANADIAN PM URGED TO CALL UPON TURKEY TO PREVENT ANY INCURSIONS INTO SYRIAN TERRITORY

14:50 25.03.2014

Canada, Kessab, Syria

Dr. Girair Basmadjian, President of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada, has addressed a letter to Canada's Prime Minister Stephen
Harper, regarding the situation in Kessab, Syria. The letter reads:

"On behalf of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, and Canadians
of Armenian origin, I would like to bring your attention an urgent
matter concerning the Syrian Armenian community of Kassab. As you
may be aware, the Armenian-populated region of Kassab has been the
location of a recent attack in Syrian territory from Turkey by al
Qaeda linked fighters.

Kassab is the last remaining outpost of the medieval Armenian
principality of Cilicia. Kassab has had a constant Armenian population
for almost one thousand years. Although the area has been subject
to many disputes between various countries seeking control and to
significant persecution of its Armenian population during the Ottoman
Empire (including massacres in 1909 and deportation of much of its
population during the Armenian Genocide in 1915), until this week's
evacuation, the Christian population has never had to completely flee
the region.

As we write, al Qaeda members roam the streets of Kassab and the
surrounding Christian and Alawite villages. There are confirmed reports
of armed men raising al Qaeda banners over Armenian churches and
Alawite mosques and making threats to kill all Christians and Alawites
found in those communities. Fortunately, the civilian population
of Kassab was able to flee to Latakia prior to the arrival of these
terrorist- attackers.

This already dire situation is compounded by the fact that these
fighters crossed into Kassab from Turkey and seem to have the tacit
approval of Turkish authorities to carry out this attack. As you can
appreciate, the Armenian population of Kassab, which suffered under
the Ottoman Empire, is especially afraid that these attacks are an
attempt by Turkey to displace the last elements of the indigenous
Armenian population of Cilicia.

We request a meeting to discuss this matter with you in person at
your earliest convenience. In advance of this meeting, recognizing
the urgency of the situation, we have set out our suggestions for
ways in which Canada may act to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe
and help to uphold the international laws of warfare.

We ask that Canada call upon all sides to the conflict to immediately
cease all hostilities in the region and allow the return of the
civilian population. We would hope that this could serve as an example
for the broader conflict as well and help to bring peace to Syria.

Additionally, we ask that Canada call upon Turkey to take all
steps necessary to secure its border and prevent any incursions
into Syrian territory. We also ask Canada to request that Turkey
explicitly disavow its support of all al Qaeda affiliated groups
in the region and to ensure that these groups are expelled from its
territory immediately. We believe that by depriving al Qaeda of its
safe havens and removing the element of religious extremism and ethnic
hatred from the conflict, the Syrian people can choose their destiny
without fear that a change in government would lead to genocide of
its Christian and Alawite population. The Armenian population of
Syria has maintained its neutrality throughout the recent conflict,
but has always made it clear that it can not accept a government
whose stated goal is the elimination of all minorities from Syria.

Finally, we ask that Canada direct a portion of the assistance
allocated for Syrian assistance to the evacuated population of Kassab
which is now living in difficult circumstances.

We commend you for Canada's principled stand on the protection of the
rights of minorities in Syria and for Canada's generous contributions
to help Syria's civilian population and Syrian refugees. We believe
that based on Canada's strong record in this area, Canada and its
allies can play an important role in guaranteeing the safety of
Syria's historically important Christian community and in making
sure that non-combatants are not displaced from their homes by acts
of terrorism contrary to any recognized law of war.

Thank you for all that you have done for the Syrian people and the
Armenian-Canadian community and we hope that you continue to come to
the assistance of a people whose lives are under serious threat."

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/25/canadian-pm-urged-to-call-upon-turkey-to-prevent-any-incursions-into-syrian-territory/

[Yervant1]

ARMENIAN HOMES IN KESSAB LOOTED, OCCUPIED

http://asbarez.com/121079/armenian-homes-in-kessab-looted-occupied/
Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

Smoke rises from the town center in Kessab after days of attacks by
extremist militants crossing over from Turkey

Two thousand Kessab Armenians find safety in Latakia; International
and Local organizations providing support

LATAKIA, Syria--A delegation of priests from the Catholicosate of
Cilicia who had visited Latakia to assess the needs of Kessab Armenians
and express solidarity returned to Antelias after the Sunday Badarak,
the Armenian Weekly reports.

According to the delegation, the local Armenian community, the
International Red Cross, and the Red Crescent are providing assistance
to those who have sought refuge in the city. An estimated 2,000 Kessab
Armenians are currently in Latakia.

"Many Armenian families are staying with relatives and friends, while
others have sought refuge in the Armenian Church and the church's
hall," said Syrian Armenian community activist Nerses Sarkissian
during a phone interview with Weekly editor Khatchig Mouradian.

"The Aleppo Armenian Prelacy as well as the Red Crescent are providing
relief and assistance to these families in Latakia," Sarkissian added.

Armenian residences occupied, looted The Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) reported on a number of eye-witness accounts of
looting and occupation of Armenian homes, stores, and churches left
behind in Kessab.

Kessab Armenians who phoned their neighbors' and relatives' homes
from Latakia discovered that their houses are already occupied by
new residents, namely rebel fighters.

Two men, Minas Soghomonian and Joseph Kilaghbian, who called their own
homes were greeted by militants who said, "We are enjoying your food."

Ani Boymushakian called the Armenian Evangelical Church office.

Intruders told her, "Now we are in control of this place, we just
got here and we will do with it as we please." She hung up as the
fighters continued making threats.

Another displaced Kessab resident, Paren Hovsepian, called and was
told by the intruders, in Turkish, that he had nice furniture.

Other witnesses have reported abductions and looting.

Dikranoohi Manjikian, an elderly, ill woman, who due to her medical
conditions and inability to move was one of the very few not evacuated,
said gunmen forcefully entered her apartment and harassed her verbally
and physically, demanding gold and other valuables. After pleading
with them that she had no such valuables, the gunmen searched the
apartment and took whatever they were able to and left. She gave her
account through a phone call.

Steve Shekhookian was on his motorcycle fleeing the area of fighting
near Duzaghaj (Al-Shajara) in Kessab when he was stopped by gunmen
and forced off of his motorcycle. He said the gunman who stopped him
was bearded and didn't speak Arabic. When he asked to be let free and
told them that he is Armenian, the gunman brandished a large knife
and threatened to slit his throat. Shekhookian was then handcuffed
to a metal frame on the window of a nearby building. Meanwhile as the
fighting intensified, the gunmen fled or hid and left him behind. He
was able to break his handcuffs and fled the area into nearby bushes
and made his way back off-road to safer areas where others were
being evacuated.

Militants entered from Turkey The armed incursion began on Friday,
March 21, with rebels associated with Al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front, Sham
al-Islam and Ansar al-Sham crossing the Turkish border and attacking
the Armenian civilian population of Kessab. The attackers immediately
seized two guard posts overlooking Kessab, including a strategic hill
known as Observatory 45 and later took over the border crossing point
with Turkey. Snipers targeted the civilian population and launched
mortar attacks on the town and the surrounding villages.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers crossed the Turkish
border with Syria openly passing through Turkish military barracks.

According to Turkish media reports, the attackers carried their
injured back to Turkey for treatment in the town of Yayladagi.

Some 670 Armenian families, the majority of the population of Kessab,
were evacuated by the local Armenian community leadership to safer
areas in neighboring Basit and Latakia. Ten to fifteen families with
relations too elderly to move were either unable to leave or chose
to stay in their homes.

On Saturday, March 22, Syrian troops launched a counteroffensive in an
attempt to regain the border crossing point, eye-witnesses and state
media reported. However, on Sunday, March 23, the extremist groups once
again entered the town of Kessab, took the remaining Armenian families
hostage, desecrated the town's three Armenian churches, pillaging
local residences and occupying the town and surrounding villages.

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
recent years with the city serving as safe-haven for those fleeing
from the war-torn cities of Yacubiye, Rakka and Aleppo.

[MosJan]

vochinch chi poxvel.. nuyn turq@ nuyn spand & talan@

 

 

 

Gamavor@ 1000% Jishta asum !!!

[Arpa]

The tragic saga of Kessab has been in the news for a whole week now. Let us see where and what Kessab is.

Here;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=59832&do=findComment&comment=317621

[Yervant1]

NATO'S TURKEY PROVIDING AIR SUPPORT FOR AL QAEDA IN NORTHERN SYRIA

Center for Research on Globalization, Canada
March 25 2014

By Mimi Al Laham

by Mimi Al Laham

The downing of a Syrian jet by Turkey was not an isolated incident
but part of a major offensive by Al Qaeda affiliated groups Jabhat
Al Nusra (designated a terrorist organization by the US State
Department) and Ahrar Al Sham against a northwestern Syrian-Turkish
border crossing. Turkey has been supporting Al Qaeda's attack on the
Kassab border crossing, the only crossing that was still held by the
Syrian military. While the AFP did report that the group involved in
the attack was the AlQaeda faction Jabhat Al Nusra , this fact has
not made it to any mainstream media headline.

Image: Excerpt from AFP reporting Al Qaeda forces involved in the
Kassab cross-border assault.

Jabhat Al Nusra, are also actively being given safe haven by Turkey.

The map below shows the Al Qaeda Camp within the Turkish border
from which the attack on the Kassab border crossing came. AlQaeda
militants also brazenly videotaped themselves walking right through
the Turkish Kassab border gate into Syria without any harassment from
Turkish guards.

Another Al Qaeda offshoot fighting along side Jabhat Al Nusra in
the offensive is 'Ahrar Al Sham'. While the rebel group is not yet
designated Al Qaeda by the US State Department, the group was founded
by Abu Khaled as-Suri, Al Zawahiri's ambassador to Syria. Ahrar Al
Sham was described as 'Al Qaeda worth befriending' by the Council
on Foreign Relations (CFR) Washington's premier think tank. Charles
Lister, a fellow at of the Brookings Institution, tweets video of
Ahrar Al Sha'am taking part in the attack on Latakia.

Image: Al Qaeda rockets fall on Latakia province, killing 7 and
injuring 30.

It was reported that Turkey had begun shelling inside Syrian soil
to back the offensive on the border point. Turkish artillery and
tanks targeted Syrian positions, and Turkish special forces have been
observed in the region. A Lebanon based satelite channel Al Mayadeen
TV reported that the Syrian Army launched a counterattack on the border
point Nabie Al Murr with Turkey , along with dense artillery cover. In
response to the Syrian defensive measures against the AlQaeda attack,
Turkey downed a Syrian jet that was firing on the Al Qaeda militants
from Syrian airspace. Turkey's claims that the Syrian jet violated
Turkish airspace is contradicted by the fact the plane crashed
over Syrian territory as shown in a video posted by Al Qaeda in the
area. The pilot managed to safely eject and was picked up in Syria,
and was even interviewedby Syrian state TV.The Al Qaeda attack and
takeover of the Kassab border crossing has caused up to 2000 to 6000
Armenian Syrians to flee the area. Mass looting and destruction of
religious sites was reported by residents (similar to criminal acts
carried out in the recently liberated city of Yabroud). Armenians
are once again refugees due to the Turkish government like their
ancestors who fled the Armenian Holocaust decades ago.

There has been no mention on the BBC of NATO's open support for Al
Qaeda groups. The attack comes in the backdrop of mass rallies against
Turkish President Erdogan, who recently banned Twitter.

The battles in Latakia are ongoing, with the Syrian military inflicting
heavy losses on Al Qaeda militants.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/natos-turkey-providing-air-support-for-al-qaeda-in-northern-syria/5375114

[Yervant1]

NATO'S TURKEY PROVIDING AIR SUPPORT FOR AL QAEDA IN NORTHERN SYRIA

Center for Research on Globalization, Canada
March 25 2014

By Mimi Al Laham

by Mimi Al Laham

The downing of a Syrian jet by Turkey was not an isolated incident
but part of a major offensive by Al Qaeda affiliated groups Jabhat
Al Nusra (designated a terrorist organization by the US State
Department) and Ahrar Al Sham against a northwestern Syrian-Turkish
border crossing. Turkey has been supporting Al Qaeda's attack on the
Kassab border crossing, the only crossing that was still held by the
Syrian military. While the AFP did report that the group involved in
the attack was the AlQaeda faction Jabhat Al Nusra , this fact has
not made it to any mainstream media headline.

Image: Excerpt from AFP reporting Al Qaeda forces involved in the
Kassab cross-border assault.

Jabhat Al Nusra, are also actively being given safe haven by Turkey.

The map below shows the Al Qaeda Camp within the Turkish border
from which the attack on the Kassab border crossing came. AlQaeda
militants also brazenly videotaped themselves walking right through
the Turkish Kassab border gate into Syria without any harassment from
Turkish guards.

Another Al Qaeda offshoot fighting along side Jabhat Al Nusra in
the offensive is 'Ahrar Al Sham'. While the rebel group is not yet
designated Al Qaeda by the US State Department, the group was founded
by Abu Khaled as-Suri, Al Zawahiri's ambassador to Syria. Ahrar Al
Sham was described as 'Al Qaeda worth befriending' by the Council
on Foreign Relations (CFR) Washington's premier think tank. Charles
Lister, a fellow at of the Brookings Institution, tweets video of
Ahrar Al Sha'am taking part in the attack on Latakia.

Image: Al Qaeda rockets fall on Latakia province, killing 7 and
injuring 30.

It was reported that Turkey had begun shelling inside Syrian soil
to back the offensive on the border point. Turkish artillery and
tanks targeted Syrian positions, and Turkish special forces have been
observed in the region. A Lebanon based satelite channel Al Mayadeen
TV reported that the Syrian Army launched a counterattack on the border
point Nabie Al Murr with Turkey , along with dense artillery cover. In
response to the Syrian defensive measures against the AlQaeda attack,
Turkey downed a Syrian jet that was firing on the Al Qaeda militants
from Syrian airspace. Turkey's claims that the Syrian jet violated
Turkish airspace is contradicted by the fact the plane crashed
over Syrian territory as shown in a video posted by Al Qaeda in the
area. The pilot managed to safely eject and was picked up in Syria,
and was even interviewedby Syrian state TV.The Al Qaeda attack and
takeover of the Kassab border crossing has caused up to 2000 to 6000
Armenian Syrians to flee the area. Mass looting and destruction of
religious sites was reported by residents (similar to criminal acts
carried out in the recently liberated city of Yabroud). Armenians
are once again refugees due to the Turkish government like their
ancestors who fled the Armenian Holocaust decades ago.

There has been no mention on the BBC of NATO's open support for Al
Qaeda groups. The attack comes in the backdrop of mass rallies against
Turkish President Erdogan, who recently banned Twitter.

The battles in Latakia are ongoing, with the Syrian military inflicting
heavy losses on Al Qaeda militants.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/natos-turkey-providing-air-support-for-al-qaeda-in-northern-syria/5375114

[Yervant1]

LEBANON CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR ARMY TO COUNTER SYRIA FALLOUT

The Nation
March 25 2014

March 25, 2014
Reuters/AFP

For news details visit :
http://www.nation.com.pk/international/25-Mar-2014/lebanon-calls-for-support-for-army-to-counter-syria-fallout

For news details Read on : Lebanon calls for support for army to
counter Syria fallout

KUWAIT - Lebanon's foreign minister called on Arab countries on Monday
to support the Lebanese army to counter fallout from Syria's civil war,
which he said threatened to tear the country apart.

Around 1 million Syrian refugees have fled to Lebanon, a displacement
that has strained public infrastructure and threatened to upset the
sectarian balance.

This "is threatening the existence of Lebanon", Gebran Bassil told
reporters before a meeting of Arab League leaders in Kuwait on Tuesday.

"This would create a danger also to the whole (of) humanity, because
if the Lebanese model would vanish, then a big clash is to be expected
between civilisations, religions and all aspects or differences in
the world," he said, speaking English.

Power in Lebanon is split between Shias, Sunnis, Druze and Christian
leaders - reflecting the mixed population - and many fear that Sunni
refugees, who represent the majority in Syria, could disrupt the
fragile demographic balance.

Communal tensions in Lebanon were stoked last week by the fall of the
Syrian border town of Yabroud to Syrian government forces and their
allies in the Lebanese Shia political and military movement Hezbollah.

The fighting prompted a chain reaction of car bomb and rocket attacks,
roadblocks and protests along sectarian lines that took days to calm
and revived memories of Lebanon's own 1975-90 civil war.

Bassil, who became foreign minister in a cabinet formed last month,
said a preparatory meeting with his Arab counterparts on Sunday
discussed Syria's conflict, now in its fourth year, the refugees and
support for the Lebanese army.

"We hope that these decisions will be translated into reality by
direct and tangible help and aid to Lebanon in backing the army,
because thearmy of Lebanon is fighting terrorism for all the Arabs
and all the world," he said.

Bassil said the only way to protect Lebanon and its borders was to
give additional support to the army. Saudi Arabia donated $3 billion
to thearmy in December for upgrades and asked France to supply weapons
using a large proportion of these funds. "We cannot live with new
military camps, whether Syrians or others, inside Lebanon," he said.

"Support for the army is something real for facing this coming danger."

Lebanon is already home to large camps for displaced Palestinians where
state authority does not fully extend. Many Lebanese trace the origins
of their own civil war to militarisation in the camps in the 1970s.

Lebanon's military nowadays is religiously mixed but some Syrian
rebels and Lebanese have accused it of being in thrall to Hezbollah,
which has sent fighters to support President Bashar al-Assad, a member
of the Shia-derived Alawite minority.

In a video posted online this week, influential Lebanese Sunni militant
leader and cleric Ahmad al-Assir called for Sunnis to defect from
thearmy. ID:nL5N0ML238] Bassil is a member of the Free Patriotic
Movement, a Christian party allied to Hezbollah in the country's
coalition government.

Meanwhile, Syrian rebels seized the Kasab village and border crossing
with Turkey Monday, an NGO said, as the regime launched fresh air
strikes in a bid to halt the opposition advance.

The air raids come a day after a Syrian warplane was shot down
by Ankara's jets in an incident slammed as "flagrant aggression"
by Damascus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels and their
jihadist ally Al-Nusra Front were now in full control of Kasab,
the only border crossing with Turkey in sensitive Latakia province,
President Bashar al-Assad's heartland.

The crossing was the last functioning border post with Turkey to slip
from regime control.

"The rebel fighters are in control of Kasab's main square. There is
fighting on the edges of Kasab, but the rebels are in control of the
village" and border crossing, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman
told AFP, four days into a rebel offensive.

According to a security source in Damascus, however, the village has
not fallen.

"The situation is unclear, the fighting continues, and neither side
is in control of the village," the source said.

The battle for Kasab, launched by rebels and Al-Nusra Front on Friday,
killed at least 130 regime and opposition fighters on Saturday and
Sunday alone, said the Observatory.

The rebel advance came despite Syria's air force carrying out strikes
and dropping barrel bombs Monday on their positions in the Kasab area
and in nearby Jabal Turkman, said the Observatory.

The army also used tanks to shell the Kasab frontier post, said
the Observatory.

- 'Flagrant act of aggression' - Turkey on Sunday downed a Syrian
warplane in what the Assad regime described as a "flagrant act of
aggression".

In a statement, the Turkish military said the plane breached its
airspace by around one kilometre and flew over Turkey for another
1.5 kilometres.

It was the most serious incident involving Ankara and Damascus since
Turkish warplanes last September downed a Syrian helicopter it said
was two kilometres (a mile) inside its airspace.

Turkey, which backs the uprising against Assad and hosts more
than 750,000 Syrian refugees, warned Damascus against testing its
determination and pledged a tough response if Syrian warplanes violate
its airspace again.

This is not the first time fighting has broken out in Latakia province,
but rebel advances have generally been short-lived.

Speaking to AFP by phone from Latakia, an activist said the Turkish
army's downing of the plane had boosted the rebels' offensive.

"It means that, unlike previous battles, the rebels' backs are covered
this time," said Omar al-Jeblawi.

"The regime is very angry," he added. "They are using all their force
- army and paramilitary - to try to stop the rebels, who in turn are
trying to advance towards the sea."

Syrian state news agency SANA meanwhile said Hilal al-Assad, a
relative of the president and commander of a pro-regime militia,
had been killed in the fighting, along with seven of his men.

Most of Kasab's majority Armenian residents have fled the village
due to the fighting and air attacks, Abdel Rahman told AFP.

Kasab is the last remaining Armenian village in the Middle East,
according to Syria expert Fabrice Balanche.

"It miraculously escaped the 1915 massacre," Balanche told AFP.

Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed between 1915 and
1917 as the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey, was
falling apart.

After three years of civil war, Syria's government now controls only
nine of the 19 official land border crossings with its neighbours
Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.

Only one crossing into Turkey remains in government hands, but it is
closed on the Turkish side.

More than 146,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and nearly
half the population displaced.

http://www.nation.com.pk/international/25-Mar-2014/lebanon-calls-for-support-for-army-to-counter-syria-fallout

[Yervant1]

AL-QAEDA CAPTURES SYRIAN CHRISTIAN TOWN ON TURKEY BORDER, KILLING 80

Anti-War
March 25 2014

Rebels Also Seize Border Crossing in Latakia Offensive

by Jason Ditz, March 24, 2014

Syrian rebel factions have made much of their offensive against the
coastal Latakia Province, the ancestral homeland of President Assad's
family. So far it has meant taking over remote towns along the coast
and other relatively unimportant territory.

One big gain came for al-Qaeda's Jabhat al-Nusra, which seized the
Christian town of Kassab on Sunday, and followed that up by capturing
the nearby border crossing into neighboring Turkey. In the offensive
they reportedly killed 80 locals and desecrated several churches.

Kassab and its surrounding villages are Armenian Christians, and their
value is primarily because of their location near the Turkish border.

Rebel factions that control border crossings are not only able to
smuggle in arms for themselves, but are able to demand a cut when
other factions use those crossings.

The reports of wholesale killings of locals and mass evacuations
among the Christian population is in stark contrast to the Christian
minorities in the territory of rival al-Qaeda faction al-Qaeda in
Iraq (AQI), which has gotten the Christians to agree to a Jizya tax
in return for a promise of protection.

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/03/24/al-qaeda-captures-syrian-christian-town-on-turkey-border-killing-80/

[Yervant1]

CALL TO THE UN TO CONDEMN TURKISH SUPPORTS TO AGGRESSION IN KESSAB

17:40 26.03.2014

Kessab, Syria

Karen Ghazaryan
Public Radio of Armenia

An act of protest was held in front of the UN Office in Yerevan. The
participants handed a letter to the UN, demanding to break the
silence and give a proper assessment to Turkey's support to the
terrorist incursion into Syria, the destruction and robbery in the
Armenian-populated city of Kessab.

Organizers of the rally urged the UN to serve its mission, to condemn
Turkey's terrorist steps and give a proper legal assessment to the
recent events. Turkey carried out aggression and terrorism at the
state level by contributing to the attack on Kessab. The protesters
condemned the UN indifference towards Turkey's steps.

"The UN should first give a legal assessment and take adequate steps,"
the demonstrators said.

Member of "Tracing Ancestors" NGO Arman Mkhitaryan considers that
Armenia should take concrete steps to support the Armenians of Kessab.

He says sending 25-30-member groups to Armenian-populated regions
would be a good psychological support.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/26/call-to-the-un-to-condemn-turkish-supports-to-aggression-in-kessab/

[Yervant1]

KAREN SARIBEKIAN: TURKEY POSES THREAT TO ALL REGIONAL COUNTRIES

Wednesday,
March
26

"History shows that Turkey does its black deed when occasion offers
and that in reality this country has not changed. Turkey poses a
threat to all the regional countries," Armenian parliamentary deputy,
member of the Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and
Internal Affairs Karen Saribekian told Aysor.am when speaking about
the events in Syrian town of Kesab.

In his words, the international community that raises human rights
issues currently keeps silent not only about the ongoing events in
Kesab, but also in Syria when the Turks have seized the opportunity,
provoking such a situation.

"In fact, Turkey is interfering in Syria's internal affairs. Moreover,
Turkey's actions contribute to activities of radicals, terrorist
organizations, but the civilized world remains silent," Saribekian
said.

Aysor.am

[Yervant1]

LATAKIA OFFENSIVE STIRS DARK MEMORIES FOR ARMENIAN-SYRIANS

The Wall Street Journal, NY
March 26 2014

By
Maria Abi Habib

@Abihabib
maria.habib@wsj.com
Biography

CONNECT

@Abihabib
maria.habib@wsj.com
Biography

When hardline Islamist rebels took over swaths of Latakia province this
week, it provided them with their first outpost on the Mediterranean
Sea.

The military offensive was symbolic for several reasons: rebels
from al Nusra Front taking over northern parts of Bashar al Assad's
hometown province while the Turkish air force shot down a regime war
plane trying to bombard the rebel advancement, as it flew near their
shared border. Nusra is al Qaeda's sanctioned offshoot in Syria.

But for Armenian-Syrians from the town of Kassab 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. The Turks bristle at the term genocide,
although 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman forces.

For many of Kassab's Armenian-Syrians, the Nusra Front occupies one
side of the same coin the Turks do as well - an existential threat
in a war where initial concepts like freedom and democracy have been
sidelined by minorities' concerns, steeped in thousand-year-old
memories of past injustices perpetrated across the region. Better
the devil you know, than the one you don't, is the common Christian
refrain.

Armenian-Syrians expressed outrage Sunday over radical Islamist
rebels taking over Kassab, which they said would threaten the town's
Christian inhabitants, many supporters of President Bashar al Assad's
forces. Kassab residents cheered on Damascus in the fight against
rebels this weekend, believing the alliance with Mr. Assad -- an
Alawite, another religious minority -- a safer bet to protect their
interests.

Armenian-Syrians blamed Turkey for rebel advances in Kassab -- as
Ankara has long turned a blind eye to rebels crossing their borders and
weapons flows -- and equated a win by Nusra with the Armenian genocide.

When Ankara shot down the Syrian war plane, it was too much for
Kassab's residents. They claimed an old foe - Turkey - was conspiring
against them by allying with a new enemy - Sunni Muslim extremist
groups like Nusra.

"The Turks are [working against] us again. This is unacceptable
considering history. Genocide repeat [in] Kassab," said one Twitter
user from the town, in sentiments shared by many other Syrian-Armenians
on the social networking site. "What a bad day this has been. God
bless everyone who is defending the beautiful village of Kassab."

Turkey has denied it supports extremist rebels and said it shot down
the Syrian war plane to protect its territory.

The Free Syrian Army has struggled to convince minorities that they
will protect them, as some al Qaeda breakaway factions like the
Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham impose a hard-line version of Islam
on territory they capture and have even vandalized churches. The more
secular FSA is backed by Western and Gulf states and recently turned
their guns on ISIS.

Kassab is the last Syrian-Turkish border crossing in the government's
hands, according to rebels. The ancient town of Kassab features steep
mountains dropping into the Mediterranean's crystal blue waters,
stone houses next to quaint churches hundreds of years old.

"The people of Kassab are kicked out of their houses and living in
the Armenian church of Latakia [city] where they receive food from
the Armenians living there," said one student from Kassab, who now
lives in the U.A.E. but is in touch with family members who recently
fled the town.

"The place we used to spend our summer memories has turned into a war
zone....the Free Syrian Army is bombing the place while the Syrian Army
is doing all they can do to save Kassab...The only positive thing is
that the people in Kassab, including my friends and family, escaped
just in time. They will surely going to be homeless after the battle."

http://blogs.wsj.com/middleeast/2014/03/26/latakia-offensive-stirs-dark-memories-for-armenian-syrians/

[MosJan]

es ukrainan patahakan che or patahets.. husov em russnerin iynqan chen karroghana "neghatsnel" vor Suryan morana

 

 

te arden arevmutq@ poxanakel e Krim@ suryai het ??

[MosJan]

batc inchi es jivaghner misht takits hangist helnum en.. mardkayn - minjpetakan - hamashxarayin voch mi orenq irents vra chi azdum ??

 

 

 

ba mi Super Power chi aselu iy bji vastakner es inch eq anum ??

 

 

super powern er el lav el giten.... irents hech tandzin el chi .. dzer superpower maman !!!

[Yervant1]

es ukrainan patahakan che or patahets.. husov em russnerin iynqan chen karroghana "neghatsnel" vor Suryan morana

 

 

te arden arevmutq@ poxanakel e Krim@ suryai het ??

Hamatsayn em!

[Yervant1]

16:32 28/03/2014 » SOCIETY

Aram I suggests UN to discuss demilitarization of Kessab

On March 27, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, called Jeffrey Feltman, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, the Armenian Church Catholicosate of Cilicia reports.
Jeffrey Feltman told His Holiness Aram I that the UN is concerned about the situation in Kessab, adding that he discussed the issue with United Nations-Arab League Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and with Armenia’s and Turkey’s Ambassadors to UN.
His Holiness presented the current situation in Kessab, stressing the role of Turkish factor. Aram I proposed that the UN should discuss the demilitarization of Kessab. Jeffrey Feltman promised to consult with Lakhdar Brahimi on that issue.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

Antichrist Nation Of Turkey Wants To Revive Genocide Of Christians

by Ted on March 27, 2014 in General

SHOEBAT EXCLUSIVE

By Walid Shoebat

While the FSA (Free Syrian Army) is loosing momentum in Syria, the Muslim terrorists are working with the Turkish government.

Shoebat.com yesterday reported attacks on Kessab, a predominately Christian Armenian city of 50 thousand inhabitants in which over 80 Armenian Christians were massacred and today we obtained footage of further attacks on Christians in Samra.

It seems that Erdogan aiding the Chechen and Afghan Muslim terrorists on the attack on Kessab shows that he has alreadyput on the hat of his fathers who massacred the Armenians in the past. Turkey is entering the fray for political and religious reasons. Al-Samra was the town that was historically Iskenderun. In 1939 after the control of Turkish troops on the Iskenderun it was declared part of the Turkish Republic under the name “Hatay”. When the French Commission amended the border, they included the town to be under Syrian control as the Latakia province.

(video showing an attack by Mig Jet fighter jet on Latakia)
The Turkish involvement now changes the equation. Terrorists are seen patrolling using Turkish Gendarmerie vehicles and are aiding in persecuting Armenins. Shoebat.com was able to obtain video recording of statements from Armenian Christians through Arabic media sources.

Here is a priest revealing how the Turks were behind the massacre of Christtians in Kessab:

http://youtu.be/XDZOELx1fJc

Here is a video of an Armenian Christian explaining how he was kidnapped and almost killed by Chechen Muslims:

http://youtu.be/LcdVZzi--30

Interview of an Armenian women affirming that the Turkish government wants to revive the Armenian Genocide:

http://youtu.be/xsLIFMRCZy8

We also obtained statements from Armenians lamenting their situation. “Since the beginning of the conflict, all civilians in the troubled areas were evacuated towards Latakia, under the supervision of the army. Christian Armenian families who were previously displaced from Sulaymaniyah in Aleppo were moved to the village of Samra and finally found themselves in the middle of Latakia in the American neighborhood” says George who came from Aleppo adding “It’s hard to forget the Armenian massacres and displacement in the past, which we could not move away from the borders of our country of origin. We left Aleppo to only experience the Turkish aggression which today forces us to move again. We do not know why after all this”.

George’s mother does not stop crying, when she hears the news about what is happening. Matilda, an elderly lady who was displaced from Idlib, remembers how Kessab was turned in the previous two years to become a large center for Syrian Christian Armenians fleeing from violence and terrorism in the inner cities and that now its following them to the extremities of the nation.

Syria has directed its blame on Turkey, which ensures the coverage of the logistics for the attacks, which was launched in part from Turkish territory, which succeeded in controlling some of the hills and orchards, especially on the larger part of the town of Kessab.

Shoebat.com last week obtained sources from within the Turkish ground that new training centers have been established in Ghazi Adab, Antioch and Ophra in Turkey prior to these attacks on the coastal area on the Mediterranean. Now we see the results. This will switch the battle from the inner parts into the borders and coastal area.

The plan as we see it is simple, the terrorists want control of the border crossings between Turkey and Syria, which halts the crossing with Turkey that was under the control of the Syrian army, with the exception of crossing Qamishli in al-Hasakah province, which is practically closed.
The attacks on the province of Latakia, especially Qardahah is essential since it is the birthplace of President Bashar al-Assad. Note that this is a conservative stronghold and is the most prominent of the Syrian system, both in terms of political support, which secured Bashar and his family ties that bind him with the religious residents there.

The terrorists under Turkish aid, attempt to gain access to the coast in the hope of controlling the maritime line which is long enough to receive small cargo ships, which would open the door to the possibility of the transfer of weapons and gear to the Syrian opposition by maritime line, and without any supervision or control of by any party, except the sender and the receiver.

This of course is causing the Syrian military to concentrate on these areas with air force and bombardments since this is a red-line as far as Syria is concerned, but with Turkish aid, it looks like the rebel forces which comprise of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Al-Nusra Front), Ansar Al-Sham (Supporters of the Levant), and Kataib Sham al-Islam (Islamic Brigade of the Levant) and Syrian Front Rebels Syria.
The axis of the Al-Samra mountain hill and Observatory 45 is crucial for the terrorists on the northern borders with Syria’s northern border with Turkey.

Putin has affirmed that he is taking the cause of the Christians in Syria, and one way he is doing this is supporting Bashar al-Assad’s fight against the jihadists. While Turkey is supporting the Islamists in their massacring of Christians, Russia is assisting Assad in the endeavor to protect the Christians. What you are seeing in Syria is an indirect conflict between Turkey and Russia. The Orthodox Christians and the Ottoman Muslims.

Here is a very emotional video showing the sufferings of the Armenians who escaped Kessab:

http://youtu.be/BO2Lku6lWpk

Edited March 28, 2014 by Yervant1

[Yervant1]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA URGES PRESIDENT OBAMA TO SAFEGUARD THE ARMENIANS OF KESSAB

13:13 27.03.2014

The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) condemns the attacks on
Armenian communities in Syria and the greater Middle East, including
the seizure and desecration of ancient Armenian religious sanctuaries.

The Assembly is particularly concerned that the extremists crossed
the Syrian border from Turkey and attacked Kessab.

In its March 24th letter to President Obama, the Assembly called
upon the Administration to safeguard Christian Armenians, not only
in Kessab, Syria, but throughout Syria and the Middle East.

"We call on President Obama to take all steps necessary to not only
safeguard the Christian Armenian community of Kessab, but to increase
efforts in coordination with the United Nations to ensure that all
minority communities are afforded greater protection. In addition,
we urge President Obama to make it publicly clear that the United
States will not tolerate its NATO ally's policy of providing support
to extremist groups," the Assembly's letter to President Obama stated.

"For Armenian Americans, current images of Armenian homes being looted
and occupied in Kessab, and innocent lives tragically lost, invoke
painful memories of the early phases of the first genocide of the
20th century at the hands of Ottoman Turks," read the Assembly letter.

The Assembly, for its part, has and will continue to reach out directly
to Members of Congress and the Obama Administration urging that the
Christian Armenian community in Kessab be safeguarded. In addition,
the Assembly has urged the Administration to redouble its overall
humanitarian efforts for Syria's Christian and minority refugees
and displaced.

"The Assembly will continue to press for action with an urgent appeal
for immediate relief and assistance to the Armenians of Kessab,"
added Ardouny.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/27/armenian-assembly-of-america-urges-president-obama-to-safeguard-the-armenians-of-kessab/

[Yervant1]

http://c0.mediamax.am/img/site/logo.png

Mudar Barakat: “Attack on Kassab is a reflection of Erdogan’s anger towards Armenia”

Thursday 27 March 2014

http://c1.mediamax.am/datas/znews/big_1395914162_6738349.jpg

http://c1.mediamax.am/datas/znews/big_1395914162_3553720.jpg

http://c1.mediamax.am/datas/znews/big_1395914162_8732422.jpg

Mediamax's exclusive interview with Dr Mudar Barakat, Syrian political observer and analyst

- Armenian-populated town Kessab, which was previously considered as one of the safest places in Syria, was attacked last week by gunmen from Turkey. Why did they choose Kessab as a target?

- First of all, these are not ordinary gunmen, they are mercenaries employed and trained by the Erdogan neo-fascist government of Turkey, financed by the Wahhabi rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, and armed by USA, Israel and their European allies.

According to a report published in Oct. 2013 by an American research centre, most of these terrorists are Islamic jihadists, the majority of them are from Saudi Arabia (19 700 terrorists, 4 000 of them have been killed already), Tunisia, Turkey, Chechnya, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and many other countries.

Syrian government proved with documents and evidence presented to the UN that terrorists from 87 countries have been involved in this war so far.

According to the same U.S. research center, about 58 000 foreign terrorists have been killed inside Syria between April 2011 and Dec 2013, evidently 247 of them are Turkish army officers and soldiers, many others are arrested.

Since we clarified who these terrorists are, you can notice that this idiotic attack on the city of Kassab was timed to be during Erdogan’s presence in Antakya to launch his election campaign. You can also notice the intentions of Erdogan’s performance during his speech in Antakya, where he announced the attack on a Syrian air fighter by Turkish F16, which happened at the time of the speech. According to Turkish opposition sources, he was planning to announce the fall of Kassab during the speech as a symbolic victory for his government in support of the so called “Syrian revolution”, which means a lot for his party in the coming elections, and it shows his American and Israeli masters that he succeeded where the Wahhabis and Muslim brotherhood rulers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar have failed again and again over the last three years. He also thinks that such success can convince the Americans and the Israelis that there is still a chance to bring down the Syrian regime, and that the planned attack on Lattakia is now possible. But more importantly, he intended to use such success in convincing the Americans to relieve him from his fears of losing power to his new enemy and ex-friend Fathullah Gulin.

Erdogan is targeting Kassab’s symbolic importance as a peaceful Syrian cradle for the Armenian families who survived the massacres enforced by his Ottoman predecessors and it seems that this attack on Kassab is a reflection of Erdogan’s anger towards Armenia’s stand against his terrorism in Syria, and a reminder of the 1915 massacres and the historical Turkish animosity towards the Armenians.

However, just like what happens in any war zone, most of the citizens of Kassab had moved to Lattakia before the arrival of the terrorists and the people of Lattakia opened there homes for them, knowing that it will not be long until Kassab is cleaned from Erdogan’s terrorists. About 450 Armenian families have left Kassab to Latakia, some of them are now staying in the Armenian Church.

On March 26, a parliament delegation arrived to Lattakia from Armenia to witness and condemn the terrorist Turkish behavior. The Armenian members of Parliament met with the Kassab families, and while they were there, an Armenian-Syrian citizen arrived from Kassab after he was lucky enough to escape from the terrorists who kidnapped him and was interviewed by the representative of the Syrian TV who was accompanying the Armenian Parliament delegation.

- Are there ongoing fights at the moment near Kessab? What measures does the Syrian government take to get back Kessab as heavy fire is reported in the area?

- The terrorists managed to take the boarders cross point near Kassab, and from there they advanced towards the west side of the city of Kassab, they are equipped with anti-aircraft missiles as well as a number of American tanks, all provided by Turkish army.

Early in the morning today [March 26], the Syrian army regained the strategic base (point 45), and surrounded the entire region around Kassab. The Syrian army is entering the city from the east, other units are surrounding the terrorists in the west part of the city.

The fighting is still ongoing, it will continue until all terrorists are killed. I was told that 1200 terrorists, among them Turkish officers and soldiers, were killed in the fights that took place over the night.

- The gunmen crossed the Syrian border from Turkey, so can we say the Turkish government supported them and even organized these attacks?

- Yes, as I said earlier, Erdogan’s government provided the terrorists with American tanks, anti-air-craft missiles, and also provided them with the Turkish army logistic support, in addition to participating directly with the terrorists in the attack.

-The Turkish border is reported to be open now and large-scale robbery is said to take place in Kessab.

- Perhaps they haven’t managed yet to do that on a large scale, but surely, Erdogan’s gangsters will repeat in Kassab what they did in Aleppo, they have robbed everything in Aleppo, the museums, the mosques, the houses, the markets.

- The Al Nusra group still controls Kessab. How long will they be able to resist?

- I can assure you that they will not succeed in facing the national Syrian army, just like in other areas, they will be smashed under the boots of the Syrian soldiers.

- What steps do the Syrian officials take to prevent attacks on Christians?

- The Syrian Christians don’t differ from any other Syrians - this is how we have always lived together.

Christianity was born in Syria, and the Syrian soldiers are defending the whole nation. This is why our enemies, Erdogan and all others, failed and will always fail to achieve their goals since they can’t comprehend our way of living in Syria. The Syrian people believe that some Syrians have been Muslims for 1400 years, other Syrians have been Christians for 2014 years, but we all have been Syrians for more than 10 000 years.

- There are rumors that an attack on Lattakia will happen soon. What do you think?

- Analyzing the situation, I can assure you that this will not happen since these terrorists have failed to achieve easier goals during the past three years despite the fact that they were at the peak of their strength and had the best international support. Now the situation has changed, the Syrian army is attacking rather than defending, also the US and international support for the rebels is at its’ weakest after the many victories achieved by the Syrian army.

Narine Daneghyan talked to Mudar Barakat.

[Yervant1]

Son of dogs!

TURKISH FOREIGN OFFICE'S STATEMENT NOTHING BUT CYNICISM - ARMAN SAHAKYAN

12:42 * 27.03.14

Arman Sahakyan, who was among the Armenian MPs that left for Syria
to deal with the problem of Kessab Armenians' expatriation, left the
following message on his Facebook page:

"Yesterday's statement by the Turkish foreign office, which announced
its readiness to provide refuge to Kessab Armenian, as well as its
denial of Turkey's involvement in the Kessab events, was nothing by a
manifestation of cynicism. Armenian self-defense squads defended Kessab
until the Turkish-Syrian border was opened, with terrorist groups
crossing the border into Syria. It was due to tremendous efforts that
Kessab Armenians were able to safely evacuate the population. Turkey,
as it would do during the Armenian Genocide, is following the principle
'make a cat's-paw out of others,' rending the air with its humanistic
statements. Kessab Armenians can only smile at such 'humanism'."

Armenian News - Tert.am

 

[Yervant1]

BBC INTRODUCES EXCLUSIVE INFORMATION ON ATTACK OF KESSAB FROM ARMENIAN EYEWITNESS

12:35, 27 March, 2014

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. It's very difficult -- because
it's so dangerous -- to get first-hand reports on attack against
the Armenian-populated town of Kessab, which is situated near the
Turkish-Syrian border. As reports "Armenpress", BBC has managed to
get an account of the battle for an Armenian Christian town in the
north-west. Kassab has just been captured by Islamist rebels from
government forces. This is the view of one Armenian farmer, who was
forced to flee from the town three days ago.

"For about the last three years we have civilians that have to look
out to protect our town. They noticed in the middle of Friday night
that the Turkish army which was on the border had left the area.

Kessab is very close to the Turkish border. Around four a.m. tracks
carrying armed militant started coming from the Turkish side. We heard
gunfire and the militants attacked Syrian government police posts
near the town around 5:30 am. They started using mortars against these
police posts. We heard lots of explosions near the villages close to
the Turkish border. We didn't know at that point who these militants
were. After 6:30 people started understanding what is going on and
they started moving away from the centre of the town. We left our
homes without being able to take anything with us.

I didn't have time even to change my clothes before leaving. We got a
few clothes and took our travel documents with us. We moved further
away from the town centre and gathered in a village further away
with our vehicles. Some people went straight to Latakia, but some
others thought the conflict will be over soon and they stayed in the
villages away from the town centre.

There was gunfire and rockets coming from the Turkish side of the
border. I had with me my children, 88-year-old father and my mother
who has cancer. We were one of the first people who left the town, we
didn't have many problems traveling to Latakia, and we went through
many villages with different ethnicities. There has never been any
conflict in our area until very recently. More people left Kessab for
Latakia after 24 hours. The point where we all met was the Armenian
Church in Latakia.

Armenians in Latakia have been hosting us in their houses. There are
still some 50 elderly people who stayed in the town. When I tried to
contact our neighbors in the town from their land line phones they
were answered by some people who didn't speak local Arabic they were
telling us "God is great" in Arabic. I heard that there were some
Tunisian and Chechen militants among them".

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/755591/bbc-introduces-exclusive-information-on-attack-of-kessab-from-armenian-eyewitness.html

[Yervant1]

Not even animals behave this way!

LATAKIA NOT A SAFE PLACE - KESSAB ARMENIANS ON EVACUATION, LOOTING AND RAPES

16:31 * 27.03.14

Syria's Armenian-populated town of Kessab continues facing fierce
battles between government forces and the Islamist militants.

Though the Armenians have been evacuated to Latakia, the town is not
thought to be safe enough for the community. Speaking to Tert.am,
Avetis Manjikyan, a 49-year old restaurant owner from Kessab, shared
his concerns in this connection.

He referred to a soldier's recount of rapes against elderly women. "A
soldier who returned from Kessab today tells me that an elderly
[woman], aged probably 70-80, was stripped naked and raped. The
situation is very bad. They weren't able to repeat the 1915 massacre;
only looted and raped the elderly," he said.

Ninety-nine percent of Kessab's population was evacuated to Latakia
after the town came under three-pronged armed attacks on Friday. They
have found shelter in the city's Armenian church and the adjacent
buildings.

Though they feel protected in Latakia, the place isn't safe for them,
Manjikyan said.

"Three to four missiles fall down each day. Latakia is not a safe
place. Our people left only with the clothes they had on. Many were
without passports. Our Armenian youth of Kessab fought for three or
four hours to help us free the people," he added.

Manjikyan said they hear that the rebel groups from Turkey are now
stealing their property. He said he has reports that his restaurant
too, has been looted.

Asked whether they want to settle in Armenia, Manjikyan answered
that Kessab is a small Armenia for them. "Our Armenia is here. We
didn't know what the Turks were plotting against us. We thought the
Turks might have changed. We are part of Armenia, the last part of
the Cilician Armenia. Even our mayor here is an Armenian," he added.

Manjikyan said they are thankful to the Armenian authorities for the
attention to the community.

"We are very thankful to the president, so if they send a plane to
offer relief, it will be very good for us. The situation is not good
here," he said, noting that hundreds of people now live together in
a small church hall.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/03/27/qesab1/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWL3_MoS3WU#t=47

 

Edited March 28, 2014 by Yervant1

[Yervant1]

Barbaric subhumans!

TURKISH AUTHORITIES INVOLVED IN STEALING BODY ORGANS OF INJURED SYRIANS

By Editor

Friday, Feb 7, 2014
http://sana.sy/eng/22/2013/05/04/480531.htm

BEIRUT, (SANA)- The Lebanese ad-Diyar newspaper revealed that the
Turkish authorities are involved in trafficking the body organs of
injured Syrians who reach the Turkish territories.

In its issue on Saturday, the newspaper said the Turkish authorities
transport young Syrian injured of those who enter Turkey to hospitals
in Antalya and Iskenderun in cars guarded by Turkish police and
intelligence.

It added that the injured Syrians have their body organs excised
after being anesthetized to be later killed and mostly buried in the
Turkish lands or sent to the border.

The newspaper noted that the body organs of the injured people that
are mostly trafficked are livers, kidneys and hearts to be given
to people who are waiting for treatment in Turkey, according to
confirmed information.

A French doctor confirmed to Ad-Diyar that stealing of human body
organs of injured Syrians in Turkey has actually taken place.

The Lebanese newspaper pointed out that European scientific websites
known for their credibility revealed acts of stealing body organs
that took place at Antalya Hospital, noting that body organ theft
and transplantation operations have increased in Turkey over the past
two years since the beginning of the crisis in Syria.

It added that Syrian doctors who have come from Germany, France and
Belgium to treat the injured have found out about human body organ
stealing, but were prevented from getting any information by the
Turkish army.

Ad-Diyar stressed that Turkish doctors confirmed that out of 62,000
civilian and military injured people who were transported to Turkey,
body organs of 15,622 of them were excised, with the injured people
sent back to Syria to be buried.

The newspaper cited an incident when families of one of those sent
to be buried in Syria opened the coffin only to discover the truth,
noting that the Syrian doctors were prevented from seeing any of the
dead bodies inside Turkey.

Ad-Diyar said the World Health Organization has started an immediate
investigation into the issue and asked the Turkish Health Ministry
to provide a list of the number of organ transplantation surgeries
performed over many years for comparison and the names of the patients.

H. Said