The ARF Eastern US Central Committee has issued the following announcement pledging its solidarity with the people of Kessab, which has been under siege since Friday when rebel gunmen entered Syria from Turkey and began attacking the population. The ARF has strongly condemned the attack and is urging the international community to intervene and deter Turkey from aiding and abetting the rebel fighters.
Below is the text of the announcement.
By now, readers are aware of the brutal, unprovoked attacks by rebel groups upon the peaceful population of Kessab. These attacks have uprooted a centuries-old community, consisting mainly of Armenians as well as other minorities in northern Syria, and are the cause of great concern and uncertainty.
We strongly condemn this act of terrorism, which in all likelihood was aided and abetted by Turkey, and which violates long-standing border agreements between Turkey and Syria. While Syrian forces now wage combat in an attempt to drive out the militants, we are doing our utmost to mobilize the international community, especially the US, to pressure those sponsoring this invasion to leave the town to its rightful residents.
Both on the state and federal levels, the Armenian National Committee of America, beginning last Friday, has met with influential US officials to inform them about these developments and to ask that they join a campaign in urging the White House to use its influence to halt Turkey’s direct or indirect role in the attacks. These efforts are ongoing.
The ANCA is also informing human rights organizations and United Nations non-governmental organizations about the fate of Kessab, and will seek their assistance in efforts to confront this human tragedy.
At the community level, the ARF is in touch with our leading organizations, seeking to expand the existing relief efforts, led by the Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund. Our immediate goal is to carry out targeted, emergency assistance for displaced Kessab residents who now reside temporarily in nearby Latakia.
We will continue our efforts, and have no doubt about the support of the entire Armenian-American community.
ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION
Eastern US Central Committee
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I think the Armenians of Kessab along with the Syrian Government, and possibly the Russians should provide any evidence they have against Turkey’s involvement to an Armenian legal body so that Turkey can be taken to international court for this incident and made to pay all the costs suffered by Armenians. Syria can’t do that yet, because it has its hands full. But at least Armenians can start the process since Kessab’s properties are Armenian owned. Hopefully some of those terrorists were captured alive so they can also give a video testimony as well.
The tragedy of Kessab reflects the bankruptcy of leadership and vision at all levels in Armenian political circles.Visionary leadership would have demanded that all Armenians evacuate Syria and emigrate to Armenia or Artsakh.When will Armenians realize that there is no future for them in the Middle East countries?How many convulsions will it take for our leaders to finally get the message?Sadly,church and party leaders in our community seem more interested in preserving fiefdoms and turfs at the expense of the overall interests of the nation.The result is Kessab and other tragedies.
If I asked you to leave your house voluntarily, would you?
What the ARF should have done with the syrian army is to organize armed groups of Armenian young men to be able to defend at least their neighbourhood or villages,The ARF is a little too late.In a moslem country we should nt trust anyone.We haven t learned that lesson yet
Easier said then done.
Rich ,the armenians in Lebanon defended themselves very nicely during the civil war.You must be a pessimist and a coward.
In addition to be concerned about our brothers and sisters in foreign lands, it seems to be that we should be concwerned withthe needs of our CC in the US.