The truth about Syria

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

EurasiaNet.org
March 28 2014


Turkey Blamed In Attack On Syrian Armenian Village

March 28, 2014 - 8:01am, by Joshua Kucera

The ethnic Armenian village of Kesab in 2010. (photo: Wikimedia Commons)

An attack by Syrian rebels on an ethnic Armenian town has raised
questions about Turkey's role in supporting the opposition and
prompted claims by many Armenians that the attack was orchestrated by
the Turkish government as an attack on Armenians.

The town, Kesab, is in Syria's far northwestern corner, on the border
with Turkey and on the Mediterranean coast. It has been Armenian for
centuries, unlike most of the Armenian communities in Syria which were
settled by refugees from the 1915 genocide in Turkey.

Last week, Syrian rebels attacked Kesab, "part of an offensive aimed
at opening up a rebel link to the sea," Reuters reported. And Syria's
government blamed Turkey: "Syrian authorities accused Turkey of
helping the fighters launch their attack on Kasab from Turkish
territory, saying Ankara's army 'provided cover for this terrorist
attack' on the wooded and hilly border region."

And a number of Armenian sources took that accusation further, and
said that it was a deliberate Turkish attack on Armenians. The
Armenian website Mediamax posted an interview with Mudar Barakat, a
pro-government Syria commentator, in which he said that Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arranged the attack as part of his
campaign for Turkey's upcoming elections. "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."

The Washington-based Armenian National Committee of America posted an
alert blaming Turkey for the attack on Kesab: "[T]he onslaught on
Kessab was launched from Turkey by foreign fighters affiliated with an
extremist wing of the al-Qaeda terrorist group. Attackers wounded
during fighting were returned to Turkey for medical treatment." And
Public Radio of Armenia published an appeal, purportedly from the
"Armenians of Kesab", saying: "This is a call to all Armenians. This
is a call to humanity. The world needs to hear the truth. Erdogan and
his government are war criminals."

For its part, Turkey has denied the allegations. In a March 26
statement, the Foreign Ministry said:

The allegations by some circles that Turkey is providing support to
the opposition forces by letting them use its territory or through
some other ways during the conflict which have intensified recently in
the Latakia/Kesab region are totally unfounded and untrue.

We consider the efforts of such circles, moving from these claims, to
draw an analogy between the developments in the Kesab region and the
painful incidents of the past as a confrontational political
propaganda attempt and particularly condemn it....

In accordance with its humanitarian and conscientious responsibility,
Turkey notified the relevant UN bodies that Syrian Armenians residing
in Kesep region could be admitted in Turkey too and protection could
be provided to them. Also, the representatives of the Armenian
community were informed of the matter through official channels.
Contacts on this issue are underway. Necessary steps will be taken to
meet the needs of Syrian Armenians as is the case for all other
Syrians.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has addressed the attack, thanking
the Syrian government for its part in protecting Kesab's Armenians but
not mentioning Turkey. He did, though, mention Kesab's history,
including its suffering in the 1915 genocide. "I think that everyone
should realize that these parallels should sober all the sides," he
said.

The attack had little to do with Kesab's Armenian heritage and more to
do with its strategic location, said Emil Sanamyan, the
Washington-based editor of the newspaper Armenian Reporter. But it was
predictable for Armenians to see it through the lens of their own
experiences, he told The Bug Pit. "Now it would of course be desirable
for the Turkish government to have the necessary sensitivity to this
subjective reality and give Syrian Armenians some kind special
treatment, but it appears demands of military necessity have overruled
that and the attack on Kessab was staged as a diversionary move to
relieve rebels that have been hammered by Assad's forces along the
Damascus-Latakia corridor," he said. "That is of course of little
relevance to most if not all Armenians and they will perceive it
through the subjective lenses, just like everyone else does."

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/68204

[Yervant1]

TURKEY'S DAVUTOGLU SAYS LEAK IS 'DECLARATION OF WAR': TURKIYE

March 27, 2014 "Information Clearing House
<http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/> -
"Zero Hedge - As we noted here, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan had
blocked Twitter access to his nation ahead of what was rumored to be
a "spectacular" leak before this weekend's elections.
<http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-27/here-youtube-false-flag-attack-syria-clip-erdogan-wanted-banned>
<http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-26/turkish-court-overturns-erdogans-twitter-ban-ahead-spectacular-leak-rumor>

Then this morning, amid a mad scramble, he reportedly (despite the
nation's court ruling the bans illegal) blocked YouTube access.
However, by the magic of the interwebs, we have the 'leaked' clip and
it is clear why he wanted it blocked/banned. As the rough translation
explains, it purports to be a conversation between key Turkish
military and political leaders discussing what appears to be a false
flag attack to launch war with Syria.
<http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-27/turkey-reportedly-blocks-youtube>.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-1GooSDwJ8
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-1GooSDwJ8>

Among the most damning sections:

Ahmet Davutolu: "Prime Minister said that in current conjuncture, this
attack (on Suleiman Shah Tomb) must be seen as an opportunity for us."

Hakan Fidan: "I'll send 4 men from Syria, if that's what it takes. I'll
make up a cause of war by ordering a missile attack on Turkey; we can also
prepare an attack on Suleiman Shah Tomb if necessary."

Feridun Sinirliolu: "Our national security has become a common, cheap
domestic policy outfit."

Ya?ar Güler: "It's a direct cause of war. I mean, what're going to do is a
direct cause of war."

Feridun Sinirolu: There are some serious shifts in global and regional
geopolitics. It now can spread to other places. You said it yourself
today, and others agreed... We're headed to a different game now. We should
be able to see those. That ISIL and all that jazz, all those organizations
are extremely open to manipulation. Having a region made up of
organizations of similar nature will constitute a vital security risk for
us. And when we first went into Northern Iraq, there was always the risk
of PKK blowing up the place. If we thoroughly consider the risks and
substantiate... As the general just said...

Yaar Güler: Sir, when you were inside a moment ago, we were discussing just
that. Openly. I mean, armed forces are a "tool" necessary for you in every
turn.

Ahmet Davutolu: Of course. I always tell the Prime Minister, in your
absence, the same thing in academic jargon, you can't stay in those lands
without hard power. Without hard power, there can be no soft power.

A full translation can be found here<http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s15hj6>

And just in case you had faith that this was all made up and Erdogan is
right to ban it... he just admitted it was true!

#Turkey <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Turkey&src=hash>'s PM Erdogan
live in Diyarbakir calls leaking of meeintg at Foreign Mins. "immoral."

-- Emre Peker (@wsjemre) March 27, 2014
<https://twitter.com/wsjemre/statuses/449209698009366528>

To summarize: a recording confirming a NATO-member country planned a
false-flag war with Syria (where have we seen that before?) and all the
Prime Minister has to say is the leak was "immoral."

Erdogan is not amused:

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan described the leaking on YouTube on
Thursday of a recording of top security officials discussing possible
military operations in Syria as "villainous" and the government blocked
access to the video-sharing site.

"They even leaked a national security meeting. This is villainous, this is
dishonesty...Who are you serving by doing audio surveillance of such an
important meeting?" Erdogan declared before supporters at a rally ahead of
March 30 local polls that will be a key test of his support amid a
corruption scandal.


http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article38085.htm

[Yervant1]

Media Neglect Turkish False Flag Attack Leak And Its Implications

By Moon Of Alamaba

March 28, 2014 "Information Clearing House"
<http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/>

"Moon Of Alabama"- Some more thoughts on the leaked tape from a
meeting in the Turkish foreign ministry which is only very selectively
reported in "western" media.
<http://www.moonofalabama.org/2014/03/media-neglect-turkish-false-attack-leak-and-its-implications.html#more>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OodqnMj20wc

A video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OodqnMj20wc> with recorded
voices and English text is available as is the seemingly complete text
in two<http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s15hj6> parts
<http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s15rac>.

The setting of the recording is this:
<http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/wrap-up-ankara-on-alert-after-spying-on-security-meeting-leaked.aspx?pageID=238&nID=64190&NewsCatID=338>

The voices of the illegal recording believed to belong to
DavutoÄ=9Flu, National Intelligence Organization (MÄ°T) Hakan Fidan,
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun SinirlioÄ=9Flu, and Deputy
Chief of General Staff Gen. YaÅ=9Far Gürel. According to the
information obtained from sources, the recording consists of a chat
between four officials in DavutoÄ=9Flu's office before the
commencement of the official meeting with the participation of more
civil and military bureaucrats in another room at the Foreign
Ministry.

It is not clear when exactly the meeting happened. It would fit the
situation late last year or early 2014.

The major points from my view:

- Turkey has delivered 2,000 trucks of weapons and ammunition to the
insurgents in Syria.
- There are plans for false flag attacks on Turkey or Turkish property
to justify an attack from Turkey on Syria.
- The Turkish military has great concerns going into and fighting Syria.
- The general atmosphere between these deciders is one of
indecisiveness. Everyone seems to be unclear what Erdogan wants and is
waiting for clear orders from above.
- U.S. military has shortly before the meeting presented fresh plans for
a no-fly one over Syria.

Then there is the fact in itself that this tape and others leaked. Internal
government communication in Turkey and personal communication of Turkish
official has been thoroughly compromised. This will hinder future decision
making and will erode any trust Turkish government allies may have in it.

It is somewhat astonishing how "western" media avoid the content of the
leaked tape. An AP report on it makes a lot of the youtube blocking the
Turkish government ordered in reaction to the tape. Of the recording
itself the AP only mentions this:
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/turkey-moves-to-block-youtube/2014/03/27/af70ebcc-b5c3-11e3-bab2-b9602293021d_story.html>


The four are allegedly heard discussing a military intervention in
neighboring Syria, a sensitive political issue in Turkey, although the
context of the conversation is not clear.

The Washington Post filed that AP report under Technology. This is an
incredible disservice to its readers.

The Guardian report based on Reuters is not any better:
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/27/google-youtube-ban-turkey-erdogan>

The move by the TIB came hours after an anonymous YouTube account posted a
leaked audio recording allegedly of a confidential conversation between
Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu,
undersecretary of the foreign ministry Feridun Sinirlioglu and deputy chief
of the general staff, Yasar Gürel, discussing possible military action in
Syria.

There is no mentioning at all of the false flag attack. The Wall Street
Journal comes somewhat nearer to the truth:
<http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304418404579465283912697784>

... a leaked recording published anonymously on the platform purported to
reveal a conversation in which Turkey's foreign minister, spy chief and a
top general appear to discuss how to create a pretext for a possible
Turkish attack within Syria.

For once kudos to the NYT which at least touches one point but leaves
out the other important ones:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/28/world/europe/high-level-leaks-rattle-turkey-officials.html>

... the officials were heard discussing a plot to establish a
justification for military strikes in Syria. One option that is said to
have been discussed was orchestrating an attack on the Tomb of Suleyman
Shah ...

German media did not do any better.
<http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/tuerkei-erdogan-laesst-youtube-sperren-a-961163.html>

A NATO ally is planning a false flag attack on its own territory which
would implicate NATO Article 5 and other NATO countries' forces and the
media do not even touch the issue? This is ludicrous.

Related to the Syria issue is another thinly sourced trial balloon, the
tenth or so, by the unofficial CIA spokesperson David Ignatius in the
Washington Post:
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/david-ignatius-obama-appears-ready-to-expand-covert-assistance-to-syrian-opposition/2014/03/27/06717e6a-b5ff-11e3-8020-b2d790b3c9e1_story.html>

The Obama administration, stung by reversals in Ukraine and Syria,
appears to have decided to expand its covert program of training and
assistance for the Syrian opposition, deepening U.S. involvement in that
brutal and stalemated civil war. ... Details of the plan were still
being debated Thursday, but its likely outlines were described by
knowledgeable officials: ...

It follows the list of issues that have been discussed on and on over the
last three years, more CIA training for insurgents in Jordan, more weapons,
maybe some MANPADs. Ignatius source is here seems to be the CIA friends in
the Syrian opposition:

The expanded program would `send a clear message to the Assad regime
that there is no military solution to the struggle,' according to a
March memo to the White House from the opposition. Assad `has no
incentive to talk' now, the memo argued, because he thinks he is
winning.

The rationale, bluntly stated, is that to reach an eventual diplomatic
settlement in Syria, it is necessary now to escalate the conflict
militarily. This has been a hard pill for Obama to swallow, but prodded
by the Saudis, he seems to have reached that point.

There are so many caveats in here - "appears to have decided", 2still being
debated", "seems to have reached that point" - that I do not believe a word
of it. The loudly announced, by Ignatius and others, attack on south Syria
has yet to appear and the halfhearted attack by the Turkish supported
Jihadists in the north seems to be stuck.

I do not anticipate any bigger action by Turkey or the U.S. especially as
the such action right now would likely lead to harsher reaction by Russia.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article38092.htm

[Yervant1]

Cumhuriyet, Turkey
March 26 2014

Looking for a Crisis With Syria!

by Mustafa Balbay


When they run out of domestic support the first thing governments do
is look for problems abroad. In this way they hope to galvanize the
entire country against the outside problem and milk society's
sentiments here for support of their rule.

Our shooting down of a Syrian plane on the Syrian side of the border
on Sunday 23 March reminds us of that fact of politics.

It goes without saying that any threat to Turkey's territorial
integrity and existence is going to receive the most violent of
responses. However, the information coming in with respect to the
incident at the Syrian border carries no such content.

The AKP government began pursuing a hardline policy claiming that the
Al-Asad government would be toppled within a week but fell into a
quagmire. We fear that in its bid to get out of this quagmire the AKP
government is going to swamps of a more serious nature. This is
because the future of the Al-Asad regime is no longer dependent on
Syria's internal dynamics alone. Added to the mix now are
international actors such as the EU, the United States and Russia
getting involved, China's quest for a more active role in the region
and Iran's strategy of building a sympathetic ring around itself.

Syria is the country with which we share the longest border at 80
kilometres. Syria is fully caught in the vice of international
planning. As the Al-Asad administration grows in strength so the
opposition is given more support; when the opposition grows powerful
the Al-Asad administration is given diplomatic support. This is
nothing more than an imperial see-saw.

Inevitably, this picture reminds of Turkish-Syrian relations during
the Cold War. Back then relations between the pro-Moscow Hafiz al-Asad
administration and NATO member Turkey received their share of the Cold
War, and then some. A 510-km stretch of border was mined. This long,
narrow strip of mines covered an area of land about the size of
Cyprus. The Cold War ended, the mines were removed and talk began of
opening up the area to the regional people to use as farm land. The
overall expectation was for the southeast to become appealing to Syria
after being made bountiful thanks to GAP [southeast Anatolia
Irrigation and Hydroelectric Dams Project], for this country to adopt
a similar policy and thus for the border to turn into a bridge for
peace.

And here we are today.

The strategic shallowness in our foreign policy is not confined to the
border with Syria. We have gone from dreams of having zero problems
with our neighbours to a situation of having zero relations with them.

This is the first time in the history of the Republic that we have no
ambassadors with four of our neighbours. The controversial relations
that began with our Muslim Brotherhood policy in Egypt ended with us
recalling our ambassador. The humanitarian relief tensions in Israel
brought our relations there to their lowest point with our ambassador
being recalled. With Syria it is not only our respective ambassadors
that have been shelved but also the minimum of relations. The problem
with Armenia that was inherited from the previous governments was
placed on the table with expectations of being fixed immediately. It
is still waiting. As for the nature of our relationship with Iraq it
is unclear whether they are state to state or state to northern Iraq's
administration, or state to terrorist organization, or even government
to terrorist organization.

Back to the topic of Syria again. Like Ataturk said, "Any war not
fought for a nation's independence is murder."

It is clear just how much of a threat Syria poses [or does not pose]
to Turkey, so bending over backwards to escalate the current crisis,
while it may appear to benefit the government in the short term, is
going to lead immediately afterwards to problems that cross the
border.

With just five days to go before the elections the AKP's [Justice and
Development Party] entire focus is on not being branded a failure at
the local elections.

Let them win, but at the cost of Turkey!

[Groong: Translated from Turkish]

[MosJan]

This is the Syrian opposition to whom our administration is donating your tax money! These are the terrorists who destroyed Kessab. Wake up my fellow Americans! Next They will be on your door steps ....
‎

[Yervant1]

20:46 30/03/2014 » POLITICS

An appeal to all Armenians across the world from the Armenians in Kessab

Deputy of Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) faction Arman Sahakian has published an appeal of the Armenians from Kessab.
''On Mother's Day, March 21-2014, our beautiful town was brutally attacked by Al-Qaeda extremists And Al Nusra front that is linked to Al Qaeda. with the blessings and full military and logistical support of the Turkish government.
Before sunrise, we woke up to the horror of a shower of missiles and rockets falling on our town. Thousands of extremists crossed the borders towards our town. Missiles were fired from Turkey, to destroy beautiful Kessab and to celebrate the approach of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Kesabtsi heroes defended the town with their simple hunting weapons until more forces from the Syrian government came to fight back the horrific attack on our town. If Kessabtsis were not informed to leave their houses by those heroes, the world would have silently witnessed yet another genocide and stood by while the media gave them yet another version of lies.

Kessab has always been home to thousands of Armenians for centuries. The first agonizing tragedy in Kesab happened in April 1909, when a rabble of thousands of Turkish men attacked Kessab, robbing and burning houses. 161 Armenians were killed in this brutal attack. In 1915, during the Armenian genocide, Turkish troops came into Kessab and started deporting Armenians and killed almost 5000 Armenian people from Kessab. The Armenian genocide at the hands of the Turks in 1915 took the lives of One and a half million Armenians. More Armenians are getting killed and will get killed in Syria if nothing is done. The Arabs in Syria took us in then, took care of us, helped us back on our feet and helped us survive through that horrible memory of death and destruction and we will be eternally grateful to them. Since then we lived in peace and harmony with other sects, like a huge family in a home called Syria.

Today, we need help once again, because Sadly the Turkish government dared to attack Armenians one more time ignoring the Armenian case. With this act Turkey has refused, yet again, to recognize the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Turks and is assisting in the murder of more Armenians in Syria. We have nothing against the Turkish people. We have lived as neighbors with them and want to continue to live as neighbors with them. It is the Turkish government, supporting and facilitating the murder of Kessabtsis by terrorists, that we plea against. We just want our town back, or what's remained of it. Because there are a lot of videos on youtube that shows how those extremists are destroying and burning our beautiful town. All Syria knows wherever those extremists get in, only death and destruction is left behind.

Our homes have been taken from us, centuries of our heritage has been destroyed.

This is a call to all Armenians. This is a call to humanity. The world needs to hear the truth. Erdogan and his government are war criminals. We need your help. We need you to take action. Our lives hang in the chance that you will do something to make sure we too don't die. We were forced out of our homes and our town with nothing but the clothes we wear. If we stayed to gather even the bare necessities, we would have definitely died. Most of us cannot even escape because we don't have our passports or documents of identification. Please, invoke the intervention of your governments, of the UN, of any other authority that you believe can help us. All we want to do, is live. If you ignore this, we all will die a horrible death at the hands of these terrorists, by being butchered in cold blood like many other Armenians in Aleppo, Yacoubiyeh, Ghenemiyeh, and around Syria.

Those who you call rebels are extremists who came to Syria for jihad with many nationalities in it like Afghans, Chechen, Saudis etc. Kessabtsis and all of Syria, saw them and were attacked and killed by them. The media can't hide the truth forever. You can't manipulate the lives of people forever. Those who you call rebels, were targeting and attacking civilians. Wake up, please.

Don't you think enough innocent blood has been split? Don't you think enough destruction has been done? We all lived peacefully and happily just three years ago. This is not a revolution, this is war. And the Syrian army is now in Kessab fighting to make sure Armenians will go back to their homes safely.

P.S.: This letter has been written by Kessabtsis being given refuge by the Armenian Church in Lattakia''.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

16:32 31/03/2014 » IN THE WORLD

Kessab mayor: Syrian troops advance, capture important heights

MP from Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Arman Sahakyan, who recently traveled to Latakia along with other Armenian parliamentarians, wrote on his Facebook page on Monday that he spoke on the phone with Kessab mayor.
“I have just spoken on the phone with the mayor of Kessab who is currently in Latakia. He said that the Syrian troops advanced, capturing some important heights, and hoisted the Syrian flag there.
“He also expressed his gratitude for the wave of protest of the Armenians worldwide in connection with the Kessab events and expressed the hope that this joint struggle will produce positive results soon,” the MP wrote.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

10:21 31/03/2014 » INTERVIEWS

Leaked audio exhibits Turkey desperation – expert

Press TV has talked with Sharif Nashashibi, journalist and Middle East expert from London, to further discuss Turkey’s role in fanning the flames of a civil war in Syria.
Press TV: Mr. Nashashibi, this leaked conversation implicates the upper echelons of the Turkish government in planning to carry out a false flag operation that could get Ankara directly involved in the Syrian crisis.
Why would Turkey want to directly get involved with the Syrian situation and why would they want more instability in their neighboring country?
Nashashibi: I mean, the only reason I can think of, personally I find it puzzling, but the only reason I could think of, is that this would be a means for Erdogan to shore up the flagging domestic support by taking the troops into a war on the basis of self-defense that then he would say: Well, you know, we have to support our troops.
That is the only think I can think of but it is not a policy I can find most logical but this is the reason I can think that he would find any reason to carry out such a dishonest and precarious and risky venture, risking the lives of Turkish soldiers. I mean, they would be going to fight and die on a false pretext. It does not make much sense to me.
Press TV: Well, Mr. Nashashibi, the Foreign Minister Davutoglu is heard in this audio along with the intelligence chief as saying that they could send ... and talked about missiles even being fired into Turkey.
What does that say though, about the leadership of a country that even they are willing to perhaps even hurt their own, if we are talking about missiles being fired into Turkey itself and as you pointed out even sending Turkish troops into Syria. I mean what does that say about the leadership?
Nashashibi: Well, it shows the level of desperation that they will go to such length for whatever gain that they think that they would achieve from this, to put the lives of the Turkish soldiers and civilians at risk and get mired in a war such as Syria, which is so complicated.
So it is really a level of desperation and for Erdogan to say that the leak of the audio recording is dishonest is really galling, I mean the actions of the Turkish leadership are dishonest by trying to dupe the public into believing that they are entering a war under a pretext that is not true.
But as Eric (Draitser) said, you know, not just in the Middle East but internationally, this is nothing new, the false pretext for war is nothing new. I mean just regionally you can take the invasion of Iraq, the Suez war in 1956, the Arab-Israeli war on 1967; there are false pretexts all over the place in the world, in the region. So this is nothing new.
Press TV: Ok, you talked about the desperation; desperation of what? Are we talking about remaining in power or desperation of what? Can you expand on what exactly you meant?
Nashashibi: Most of these wars that are launched on a false pretext are meant to shore up domestic support. At times of war people rally around the troops and rally around their leader.
So this is an attempt..., Erdogan has been under increasing pressure domestically over various issues and, you know, all I can see from this act is a way to divert people’s attention from corruption scandals, from other authoritarian practices that he is doing, focusing it on a war supposedly of national self-defense and shoring up his support.
This probably is the logic, because it is the logic of other leaders who have launched such actions around the world in other situations.
Press TV: Well, Mr. Nashashibi you have heard some of the comments, I want to expand on the last one and your take on that. Is this a ploy in general by the West to, actually, get NATO directly involved in the situation in Syria?
Nashashibi: I do not see any evidence for this and I do not buy into a conspiracy theory unless there is evidence for it. So this would be speculation. So I am not going to go to it because there is no proof either way.
Press TV: Mr. Nashashibi the audio also points to the US’ involvement, it talks about..., it has Davutoglu, actually, talking about that, basically, John Kerry knows about the actual impending attacks and, basically, just waiting to see when it would take place. What does that say to you? If Washington and Ankara are directly coordinating, it appears some would say false flag attacks?
Nashashibi: Well, again the leak is of what the Turkish officials are saying. You now, Kerry is not in the leak itself so we cannot say for certain what the US’ involvement is exactly and certainly Turkey and the US are allies and there will be coordination but to what level that is and what exactly has been agreed and what is not, I mean knowledge does not necessarily mean agreement.
So, again, it is speculating. There is no American voice in the audio; this is what the Turkish officials are saying. So, again, speculation, and you know, referring to the conspiracy theory...
Press TV: Well, let me approach this question from this way. We know that Washington’s goal is to topple the government of Bashar al-Assad and also that is one of the goals of the Turkish government. Is it possible that they are doing whatever it takes, these moments now going three years into this war, that would it be unlikely that they would, actually, reach this point, some would say of desperation because of the recent victories by the Bashar’s government, of actually, now trying to pull off something else that would get them directly involved?
Nashashibi: Look, it is possible ... but the US involvement with the Syrian opposition has certainly not taken on the level that would be a significant threat to Bashar al-Assad; so, again, it is speculation to say how involved the US would be in this particular Turkish operation.
I am inherently suspicious of American motives in the Middle East anyway, historically; this is the case but we do not know the level ...

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

Business 2 Community
March 30 2014

#SaveKessab Campaign Gathers Pace as Blink 182²s Travis Barker Gives Support


By Duncan Riley


The campaign to save the Syrian Armenian town of Kessab gathered pace
today as Blink 182²s Travis Barker gave support.

Along with posting a #SaveKessab picture to his Instagram account, Barker wrote:

#StopGenocide #SaveKessab I have a lot of Armenian friends I love &
support that are like #FAMILY to me@mrfamouscheese @r_men818
@famous_crow#ISupport

Campaign supporters have been targeting celebrities and politicians
alike on Twitter in an attempt to get the word out about a story most
of the mainstream media is ignoring.

As we wrote yesterday, the town was over run by Al-Qaeda aligned
militants on March 21st.

Reports are mixed on how many people were killed, with the most common
number quoted being 80. The town has been looted, along with Christian
churches being desecrated and destroyed.

The town of Kessab has a strong historical significance for Armenians
worldwide as the town was a center of forced deportation during
Turkish Armenian genocide of 1915. The town was also part of the
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in the 11th century.

To join the campaign tweet the hashtag #savekessab on Twitter.

http://www.business2community.com/social-buzz/savekessab-campaign-gathers-pace-blink-182%E2%80%B2s-travis-barker-gives-support-0828354#!BZoIh

Also in http://socialnewsdaily.com/33133/savekessab-campaign-gathers-pace-as-blink-182s-travis-barker-gives-support/

[MosJan]

Germany arrests 3 suspected supporters of hardline group in Syria
Germany arrests 3 suspected supporters of hardline group in Syria
March 31, 2014 - 15:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - German authorities have arrested three people in a series of raids on suspected supporters of a hardline Islamic group in Syria, according to the Associated Press.

Federal prosecutors said they searched 10 apartments in Berlin, Frankfurt and Bonn on Monday, March 31. They arrested one person in each of the three cities.

Two of them, a German man identified only as Fatih K. and a Turkish man identified as Fatih I., are suspected to be current or former members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The third person, a woman with German-Polish dual nationality identified as Karolina R., is suspected of supporting the group by making payments totaling 4,800 euros ($6,600).

Chief federal prosecutor Harald Range stressed the importance of combating the possible risks posed by radicalized extremists returning from Syria's civil war.

[Yervant1]

18:11 01/04/2014 » SOCIETY

Yerakouyn.com: 20 of 38 Armenians who remained in Kessab were freed

Of 38 Armenians who remained in Kessab, 20 were freed, Yerakouyn.com reports, citing a source in Latakia.
The Armenian populated villages of Kessab in Syria were the target of three days of brutal cross-border attacks from Turkey. Some 800 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.
Mostly old and immobile people remained in Kessab. Three Armenians were freed yesterday - Joseph Saghtjyan, 94, Hakob Ghazaryan, 85, and his wife Arpine Cholagyan, 73.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

16:50 01/04/2014 » REGION

Azerbaijani terrorists who fight in Syria are called on to come back and attack Armenians of Karabakh

“If you so badly want to fight, take the weapon and go one-on-one across the border to the Armenians,” Azerbaijani journalist Timur Rzaev with such words appealed to Azerbaijani terrorists who fight in Syria in his article published on Nedelya.az website.
“If you have been able to get to Syria from Baku you will manage to go across the border as well. Take weapons, grenades, break into the dugout to the Armenians and blow yourself up with them. You will die but will take with you dozens of Armenians. One man can make it, two, five, hundred… when reached to one hundred and one, the Armenians themselves would flee from Karabakh,” the Azerbaijani journalist believes.
According to the author, the Azerbaijanis “who left their homeland and went to Syria should be ashamed of what they did.”
“At the same time, this situation illustrates the collapse of the system of public education, lack of respect for the country, for parents, for teachers: the promises of radical preachers outweigh all of the mentioned above. And perhaps this is the most grievous result of the current situation in our eyes,” the journalist believes.
According to the article, a whole sect of Wahhabis, which lures and dupes young people, operates in Azerbaijan freely and with impunity. “This is a matter of national security, of nation’s future. There is one more thing, if there is a sect in the country that recruits young people and make them terrorists, it is an issue the Ministry of National Security should deal with. Naturally, it is impossible to attach special agent to every religious person who would watch over him but it is necessary to curb Wahhabism. Today the terrorists fight in Syria while tomorrow they may start fighting in Azerbaijan against those whom they would consider non-believers!” Rzaev notes.
Note that Azerbaijani Salafis or Wahhabis are fighting in the ranks of various terrorist groupings that operate in Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to the Azerbaijani news agency Vesti.az the total number of Azerbaijani terrorists in these countries equals to 300. Whereas according to FaktHeber Azerbaijani portal over the past three years only in Syria almost 200 Azerbaijani terrorists were killed.
The relationship between international terrorist groups and Azerbaijan originated in the early 1990s. That time, the Azerbaijani army, having failed in the aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), retreated with losses. Trying to save the situation, the Azerbaijani leadership, headed by Heydar Aliyev attracted to the war against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh international terrorists and members of radical groups from Afghanistan (groupings of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar), Turkey ("Grey Wolves", etc.), Chechnya (groupings Basayev and Raduyev etc.) and some other regions.
Despite the involvement in of thousands of foreign mercenaries and terrorists in the Azerbaijani army during the war, the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic failed, and the Baku authorities were forced to sign an armistice with the NKR and Armenia. However, international terrorists found ties in Azerbaijan, and used them in the future. Recruitment was conducted among Azerbaijanis, who then were sent to Afghanistan and the North Caucasus, where participated in the battles against the forces of the international coalition and Russian organizations. In recent years, the citizens of Azerbaijan are actively involved in terrorist and extremist activities in Russia, Afghanistan and Syria.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

#SAVEKESSAB CAMPAIGN SPREADS IN SOCIAL NETWORKS

March 31, 2014 | 01:48

The #SaveKessab Campaign, whose objective is to save Syria's
predominantly Armenian-populated town of Kessab, gathered pace
throughout the social networks, specifically in Twitter and Instagram.

Well-known personalities, such as famous American music band Blink
182's drummer Travis Barker, have joined this campaign.

"#StopGenocide #SaveKessab I have a lot of Armenian friends I love &
support that are like #FAMILY to me," Barker wrote in his Instagram
account.

Campaign supporters have been targeting celebrities and politicians
alike on Twitter in an attempt to get the word out about a story most
of the mainstream media is ignoring, Social News Daily reported.

Famous American-Armenian personalities Khloe and Kim Kardashian as
well as retired Russian professional boxer Nikolai Valuev likewise
have lent support to the#SaveKessab Campaign.

In the early morning on March 21, armed militants from the Jabhat
al-Nusra Islamic terrorist group infiltrated into northern Syria's
Latakia Governorate, which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians and
Alawites, from four directions. Two large groups of terrorists had
launched the attack from Turkey. About 600 Kessab-Armenian families
are currently sheltered in Latakia city. On March 23, Turkish fighter
planes downed a Syrian military aircraft that was conducting a mission
against the Islamic terrorists in Kessab. A group of Armenia parliament
members recently visited Syria to assess the situation in the region.

http://news.am/eng/news/201733.html

[Yervant1]

TURKEY IS INVOLVED IN ATTACK ON KESSAB - LIBERATION

March 29, 2014 | 03:17

Armenian News-NEWS.ampresents below an abridged version of analyst
Jean-Pierre Perrin's article, which was published in Liberation
daily ofFrance.

"The Syrian rebels reached the Mediterranean Sea for the first time.

The attack enabled them to seize several towns and villages, including
Kessab village that borders Turkey.

"Kessab is one of the few places where Armenians, who survived the
Armenian genocide organized by the Turkish authorities, live.

"Judging from everything, the Jabhat al-Nusra militants in Turkey
carried out this operation, and this means with [official] Ankara's
participation.

"The Syrian authorities have confirmed that the rebels had come from
Turkey, together with their ally jihadists, to attack on their region.

"[in addition,] a Turkish fighter jet hit a Syrian plane."

In the early morning on March 21, armed militants from the Jabhat
al-Nusra Islamic terrorist group infiltrated into northern Syria's
Latakia Governorate, which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians
and Alawites, from four directions. Two large groups of terrorists had
launched the attack fromTurkey. About 600 Kessab-Armenian families are
currently sheltered in Latakia city. On March 23, Turkish fighter
planes downed a Syrian military aircraft that was conducting a
mission against the Islamic terrorists in Kessab. On Monday, a group
of Armenia parliament members headed to Syria to assess the situation
in the country.

http://news.am/eng/news/201461.html

[Yervant1]

KESSAB-LIKE CASES OCCURRED IN 1909 AND 1915 - ARMENIA OMBUDSMAN

March 31, 2014 | 11:28

YEREVAN. - Human Rights Defender of Armenia Karen Andreasyan on Monday
issued an urgent message.

Andreasyan addressed the message to the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, International
Ombudsman Institute, European Ombudsman Institute, International
Committee of the Red Cross, Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House.

The Armenia Ombudsman's message is with respect to the ongoing events
in and around Syria's predominantly Armenian-populated town of Kessab.

"It is unfortunate, but the events similar to those in Kessab occurred
in 1909 and 1915, when the Turkish troops had forced the Armenians to
leave Kessab. Today's killings and displacement of Kessab Armenians
are the third in their history.

"The intent of complete or partial extermination of national, ethnic,
racial or religious groups is at the basis of these incidents. These
actions should be accepted as the most serious challenge to, and
peril against, the international community as well as the fundamental
principles of human rights.

"We call on the international community and international organizations
to launch a thorough investigation to find out the extent the
neighboring countries, or other states (Turkey, in particular), have
controlled the situation in Kessab, [and] what accountability they
bear for the human rights violations there," Andreasyan's message
specifically reads.

In the early morning on March 21, armed militants from the Jabhat
al-Nusra Islamic terrorist group infiltrated into northern Syria's
Latakia Governorate, which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians and
Alawites, from four directions. Two large groups of terrorists had
launched the attack from Turkey. About 600 Kessab-Armenian families
are currently sheltered in Latakia city. On March 23, Turkish fighter
planes downed a Syrian military aircraft that was conducting a mission
against the Islamic terrorists in Kessab. A group of Armenia parliament
members recently visited Syria to assess the situation in the region.

http://news.am/eng/news/201771.html

[Yervant1]

#SAVEKESSAB PROTEST TO BE HELD AT SYDNEY TURKISH CONSULATE

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/03/31/savekessab-protest-to-be-held-at-sydney-turkish-consulate/
19:24 31.03.2014

A peaceful protest will be held in front of the Turkish Consulate
in Sydney on April 2 to express the Armenian-Australian community's
solidarity with the Armenian community of Kessab, Syria, and to condemn
Turkey's actions, the Armenian National Committee of Australia reports.

On March 21st, armed rebel groups attacked the heavily
Armenian-populated region of Kessab, Syria, by crossing the Turkish
border into Syria. Under the threat of slaughter, the entire Armenian
population of the region was forced to flee their homes to neighboring
towns, including Latakia and Bassit. Some were not so lucky and
have reportedly been taken hostage, while churches and homes have
been destroyed.

A demonstration is to be held in Sydney to join with Armenian
communities from all around the world in condemning Turkey's action,
which is a continuation of its genocidal policy towards Armenians
dating back to 1915.

Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia,
Vache Kahramanian, remarked: "This is an important opportunity to the
Armenian-Australian community to publicly show their solidarity with
the Armenian community of Kessab."

"In 1915 the Ottoman Turkish rulers orchestrated the Armenian genocide
and today, in the 21st century, the current Turkish Government
is continuing the same policy against the Armenians in Syria,"
Kahramanian added.

Spokesperson for the organizing Armenian Youth Federation of Australia,
Aram Tufenkjian, stated: "Today we call on all Armenians, young and
old, to join in this important action to hold Turkey accountable."

[Yervant1]

FALL OF KASSAB WILL BE COSTLY FOR TURKEY

AL-Monitor
March 31 2014

by Fehim Tastekin
Radikal (Turkey) - Translated from Turkish

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has informed the United Nations that a
camp for 2,000 persons is ready at Mardin for Syrian-Armenians who
may wish to take refuge in Turkey.

I was delighted. Then a Christian friend called and asked: "April 24
is approaching and it is the Armenians again, just as 1915 will be
observed." I was angry because I couldn't make the connection. Then
came a statement by our Foreign Ministry: "All claims that Turkey
supported opposition forces involved in the Kassab clashes by allowing
them to use Turkish territory or in any other manner are entirely
baseless."

Mehmet Ali Edipoglu, a member of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs
Committee was in Hatay for a while to find out what was happening. He
sent me an email: "We went to the villages of Gozlekciler and Candir
as well as the Teknecik outpost. We were stopped by soldiers. We
were upset by their warnings that our lives could be in danger. But
in the areas they didn't let us enter and even in the areas used by
the soldiers, Syrian-plated cars were roaming about. According to
information from villagers, thousands of fighters coming from Turkey
crossed the border at at least five different points to launch the
attack on Kassab. We ourselves observed dozens of Syrian- plated cars
nonstop transporting terrorists and firing into the Syrian outpost
from the military road between Gozlekciler village and our military
base at Kayapinar."

Among the allegations we heard was one that two tanks and about 30
semis had crossed the border, in addition to pickup trucks mounted
with DShK heavy machine guns. According to a hard-to-believe report
by a reporter for Al-Alam news channel, "The Turkish army shelled
the Syrian military base near Kassab. ... At Kassab, Jabhat al-Nusra
hoisted its own flags on Turkish tanks." The prevailing conviction is
that the Turkish military shot down the Syrian jet to impede Syrian
air operations against armed groups that captured Kassab.

Just as we were focusing on Kassab, the tape recording of the meeting
between Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Undersecretary of Foreign
Affairs Feridun Sinirlioglu, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar
Guler and chief of National Intelligence (MIT) Hakan Fidan surfaced.

If the recording was authentic, they were talking about measures to be
taken for the Tomb of Suleiman Shah threatened by the Islamic State
of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), Syria scenarios, weapons and ammunition
problems of groups fighting in Syria, ammunition sent to the area
earlier and results achieved. Their discussions showed how deep Turkey
has sunk in Syria. They were scary, beyond logic. How then can I be
surprised by the claims about Kassab?

At a time when opposition groups defeated at the Qalamoun battles
were withdrawing to the north and foreign fighters were beginning to
go back to their countries, their success in Kassab was a gain that
reinvigorated Jabhat al-Nusra and its ally, the Islamic Front. At
least, they were able to stand on the shores of the Mediterranean
they dreamed of and posed for photos. For three years, they couldn't
cut through the Mediterranean front Latakia to Tartous, because
it couldn't be done without the logistical and military support of
Turkey. The daily As-Safir, published in Beirut, wrote about the role
of foreign intelligence services in the Kassab offensive: "Especially
Turkish intelligence played a key role in preparations and planning
of the attack, and supported its implementation." Ibrahim Idlibi, the
leader of the Lighting Brigade that took part in the offensive, proudly
explained how they got anti-aircraft weapons and rockets from Turkey.

We don't know how true these reports are. But when the critical actor
is Turkey and the target is an Armenian town, then Kassab affairs
assume different proportions. Although opposition militants said they
protected the church in Kassab, Egyptian Abu Kathede in his Facebook
message sent out a photograph of the church saying, "We took down the
crosses. Our brothers will turn the church to a mosque." Of course,
the entire Armenian diaspora is talking about this.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) said Armenians
had been once again forced to flee and asked Congress and the White
House to put pressure on Turkey. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
said Turkish soldiers in 1909 and 1915 had tried to deport Armenians
from Kassab and history was repeating itself.

Kassab is one rare location where Armenians live as a community. Like
the Vakif village of Hatay, it is a symbol. They don't find Turkey's
welcoming them to be convincing. To be honest, Turkey doesn't want the
Armenians to come and the Armenians don't trust Turkey. We are at a
critical juncture. The country that will pay the bill for a possible
disaster in Kassab is known. As April 24 approaches, Turkey will be
confronted with this issue at every possible opportunity.

These miscalculated, ill-judged moves in the end may bring Turkey to
The Hague. With tape recordings or without, someone must answer the
question posed by Armenian journalist Rober Koptas: "What changed?

Until yesterday, it was Turkey blocking any attack against Kassab. But
now, to say the least, it has turned a blind eye to Islamist groups."

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2014/03/fall-kassab-syria-costly-turkey.html#

[Yervant1]

ARMENIAN MP IN CYPRUS PARLIAMENT URGES TO END INJUSTICE IN KESSAB

10:10 01.04.2014

The Representative of the Armenian Community in the Cyprus
Parliament,Vartkes Mahdessian, has sent out letters of protest
condemning the recent attacks on the historically Armenian city of
Kessab in Syria, urging the United Nations and the European Parliament
to take immediate action to safeguard the predominantly Armenian
population of Kessab, Gibrahayer Magazine reported.

Furthermore the letter states that these provocations against civilians
are a clear violation of international law and human rights and urges
these organisations to intervene immediately to end further suffering
and injustice.

The Protest Letters were sent to the following people:

Ban Ki-moon - UN Secretary General Martin Schulz - President of
the European Parliament Jose Manuel Barroso - President of the
European Commission Yiannakis Omirou - President of the Cyprus
Parliament Ioannis Kassoulides - Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs
Eleni Theocharous - Member European Parliament Andreas Pitsillides -
Member European Parliament Kyriakos Triantaphyllides - Member European
Parliament Takis Hadjigeorgiou - Member European Parliament Antigoni
Papadopoulou - Member European Parliament Sophocles Sophocleous -
Member European Parliament

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/01/armenian-mp-in-cyprus-parliament-urges-to-end-injustice-in-kessab/

[Yervant1]

SHAKARIAN: TURKS DID NOT MISS CHANCE TO HARM ARMENIANS OF KESAB

Tuesday,April 01

The main purpose of the Armenian parliamentary delegation's visit to
Syria was to meet with compatriots, the member of Heritage faction
Tevan Poghosian told a press conference today.

"Our goal was to confirm that we are prepared to help our compatriots.

We needed to see the ongoing events and assess them. It was hard to
see all this and remain indifferent," Tevan Poghosian said.

Touching upon their meetings with high-ranking Syrian officials
and President Bashar Assad, Tevan Poghosian said they received the
Syrian authorities' official proposal to meet and it would be wrong
to reject it.

"It is the third time that Armenians were subjected to deportation in
the last 100 years. They understand the situation and have no intention
of abandoning their homes. They ask Armenia to help them restore their
households when they return to Kesab. They understand clearly that
they lost their property and their homes were looted, but they are
convinced that they will return to their homes sooner or later. Living
outside Syria is out of the question," T. Poghosian noted.

Another participant of the press conference, independent deputy
Edmon Marukian said for his part that people informed them during
the meeting in the yard of Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Latakia that
Kesab Armenians noticed that during the retreat some Turkish groups
joined Syrian armed groups.

"The residents of Kesab were evacuated to Latakia with the assistance
of the Syrian army. Our compatriots understand that upon return they
will not find their homes in the same state in which they left them
and for that reason they ask the Armenians to help restore them,"
the deputy explained.

Edmon Marukian stressed the importance of conducting a correct
propaganda campaign, noting that there is an information vacuum
concerning the Syrian events and massive abuses of rights of the
Christian minority in Syria are committed.

According to A. Shakarian, an expert on Turkey, the Turks continue
to believe that Kesab belongs to them and not to Syria. "It is a
Turkish-Syrian problem. The Turks just did not miss the chance to
harm the Armenians. Armenians took a correct decision and the hashtag
#SaveKessab has become a trend. We used this fact and once again
raised the Armenian Genocide problem," he said.

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2014/04/01/maruqyan-poghosya/

[Yervant1]

ARMENIAN MP: THERE IS INFORMATION BLOCKADE IN THE WORLD CONCERNING SYRIAN EVENTS

13:47 01/04/2014 >> IN THE WORLD

The aim of our visit to Syria was to collect facts about the ongoing
events and work out proposals so that our state will be able to
support our compatriots, Heritage parliamentary faction secretary Tevan
Poghosyan told reporters in Yerevan, urging all Armenian intellectuals,
businessmen and politicians to visit Syria.

MP Edmon Marukyan, who also recently traveled to Latakia along with
other Armenian lawmakers, stressed the importance of information
campaign in support of the Armenians of Kessab, noting that there is
information blockade in the world concerning the Syrian events and
that the rights of Christian minorities are being violated in Syria.

According to him, no Christians will remain in Syria if Assad's regime
is removed.

Speaking about their meetings with state officials in Latakia, Tevan
Poghosyan said, "We met them to express our concern about the fate of
our compatriots and to say that we are prepared to help them. They told
us that every Armenian is a citizen of Syria, which is praiseworthy."

http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/04/01/edmon-maruqyan-qesab/

[Yervant1]

LAND AND CULTURE ORGANIZATION REQUESTS ACTION ON KESSAB

16:40 01.04.2014

The France-based Land and Culture Organization has addressed an appeal
to the President of France, the European authorities and member states
of NATO, requesting action in Kessab. The message reads:

"On Friday March 21, 2014, armed groups claiming to be from several
Islamist movements (including Jabhat Al Nusra and Ahrar Al Sham,
both affiliated with Al Qaida) entered Syria from Turkey, crossing the
border check point at Kessab, clearly implicating the responsibility of
authorities of the Republic of Turkey. The attack on the locality of
Kessab forced most of its population to flee to Lattakia in a state
of emergency. At present, the region of Kessab is almost entirely
emptied of its population and armed Islamist groups are occupying
and pillaging houses and churches.

The government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has assisted the assailants
in crossing the border, has covered them during their attacks and has
taken in their wounded, who were treated in a Turkish village near the
border. Furthermore, it is common knowledge that Turkey has become a
base for "Jihad" candidates coming from various countries, including
Europe and France itself, and that it shares the responsibility for
the confessionalisation and ethnicisation of the Syrian conflict.

The participation of Turkey, a member of NATO, makes this State an
accomplice of the deliberate attack of these "jihadists" on a civilian
and non-combatant population which is a minority community of Syria.

Moreover, Kessab is a symbol for the whole Armenian Nation.

Turkey is well aware of this fact. Kessab is the only group of
Armenian villages to have escaped the turkification policy and to
have not been emptied definitively of its Armenian population in
the 1920â~@²s. What is the objective of the TurkishState today? A
year away from the centenary of the genocide of the Armenians, what
meaning can one give to such a deliberate act?

We are making a special appeal to the President of France, to the
European authorities, and to the Member States of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, requesting a firm and rapid intervention towards
the Turkish State, so that the attacks from Turkish territory cease,
and that the Armenian population of Kessab can return to their homes."

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/01/land-and-culture-organization-requests-action-on-kessab/

[Yervant1]

Some papers allude that, it's the Syrian rebels who are occupying Kessab but it's far from the truth!

CHECHENS AND TUNISIANS OCCUPY KESSAB ARMENIANS' HOUSES

19:14 * 01.04.14

Chechens and Tunisians are occupying the Kessab Armenians houses,
Kessab Mayor Vazgen Chaparyan told Tert.am.

But he is sure that the Armenians' houses will be vacated as soon as
the Syrian army takes the settlement back.

Chaparyan reported numerous cases of looting, but the settlement as
a whole has not been damaged seriously. The Syrian army is making
progress in the region.

"We must return to Kessab," Chaparyan said as he responded to a
question about their settling down in Armenia or in Nagorno-Karabakh.

He hopes it will happen soon.

Kessab Armenians appreciate with Armenia's response to their situation.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/04/01/vazgen-chaparian/

 

[Yervant1]

GROUP OF KARABAKH VOLUNTEERS TO HEAD TO LATAKIA

Tuesday,April 01

150 people from Nagorno Karabakh have responded to the appeal of
Armenian parliamentary deputy, field commander and war veteran Vahan
Badasian. They expressed an intention to go to the Armenian-populated
town of Kesab in northwestern Syria and to Latakia where Kesab's
Armenian population was evacuated, Galatv.am reported.

Badasian told Galatv.am that due to financial problems the whole group
of 150 members will not head to Latakia now, but a small group will
go there within the next few days.

"You will soon learn their names and the date. People with combat
experience have signed up. Our visit is going to be useful. Armenians
should know that they are not alone," he said.

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2014/04/01/vahan-badasyan/

[Yervant1]

RUSSIA URGES UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE ATTACK ON ARMENIAN-POPULATED KESSAB

21:33 01.04.2014

Kessab, Russia, UN

"The UN Security Council has to discuss the attack on the
Armenian-inhabited village of Kessab in Syria and give its assessment,"
the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, Itar-Tass
reports.

Russia considers any attempts to justify terrorists' crimes absolutely
unacceptable, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said.

"The UN Security Council has to discuss the attack on the
Armenian-inhabited village of Kessab in Syria and give its assessment,"
the ministry says.

"We condemn extremists' actions in Syria. We believe that the Syrian
government and the opposition should join efforts to eradicate
terrorism on the Syrian land," the ministry says.

"The world community and human rights organisations have voiced
concern over the situation in the Armenian-populated town of Kessab,
Syria's north-west. The town was attacked by al-Qaeda-linked extremist
groups of Jabhat al Nusra and Ahrar al Sham," the ministry says.

"The only reason for attacking seven hundred families and forcing them
to leave their homes is that they were loyal to the Syrian government,"
it says.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/01/russia-urges-un-security-council-to-discuss-the-attack-on-armenian-populated-kessab/