Members of Congress Condemn Kessab Attacks

WASHINGTON—Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) was joined by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), Armenian Genocide Resolution Lead Sponsors David Valadao (R-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Representatives Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and James McGovern (D-Mass.) in condemning the recent attacks against the historically Armenian city of Kessab, Syria, urging the State Department to investigate the incursion and take immediate action to safeguard the vulnerable population, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Chairman Menendez, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs, Members of Congress Condemn Kessab Attacks.
Chairman Menendez, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs, Members of Congress Condemn Kessab Attacks.

“We would like to thank Chairman Menendez and the many other Congressional defenders of human rights who have stepped forward to call the world’s urgent attention to the attacks against the predominantly Armenian population of Kessab,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “We look forward to working with each of them to ensure that Turkey’s role is explicitly condemned by our government, as we continue efforts to secure the safety and return of Kessab’s civilian residents to their ancestral homes.”

In a letter to constituents sent earlier today, Chairman Menendez stated, “Like you, I am gravely concerned by reports of a March 21, 2014 attack on the predominantly Syrian Armenian town of Kessab, near the Turkish border, by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists based in Turkey.  Attacks of this nature are another example of a dangerous new chapter in the violence now engulfing Syria; one where Syrian minorities are actively targeted by Islamic extremists because of their religion and ethnicity.  I condemn all such attacks, including those on Armenian Christians.”

In a joint letter to President Obama, Representatives Pallone, Grimm, Valadao and Schiff echoed these concerns, noting “When coupled with a mass exodus of the Armenian community, these events are far too reminiscent of the early days of the Armenian Genocide, which took place nearly 100 years ago in Ottoman Turkey under the cover of World War I.”  The letter goes on to state, “With the Christian Armenian community being uprooted from its homeland, yet again, we strongly urge you to take all necessary measures without delay to safeguard the Christian Armenian community of Kessab.  We also believe that now is the time to redouble America’s efforts to ensure that all minority communities at risk in the Middle East are afforded greater protection.”

Senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Brad Sherman stated that he has “been in contact with the State Department and have urged them to take the necessary actions to assist the Armenians in Syria. Turkey must take immediate action to help prevent extremist attacks on Armenian civilians.”

Rep. James McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, explained, “I strongly condemn the brutal attacks on the Armenian-populated town of Kessab by al-Qaeda affiliated armed bands.”  He went on to note that he is “deeply concerned by the reports that these attacks allegedly originated in Turkey and demand that the United States and international community conduct a thorough and critical investigation of these claims.”

Central California Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), in a letter to his constituents, wrote, “As you may know, al Qaeda-linked terrorists attacked Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian town of Kessab, Syria six days ago. These attacks are deplorable, and I have made clear to the State Department that we must determine exactly what happened and continue to work with our allies to prevent such atrocities from happening again.”

Representatives Schiff and Sherman Tweet to #SaveKessab

Representatives Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman shared their concern regarding the Kessab attacks on social media today, joining with concerned Armenians around the world in an effort led by the Armenian Youth Federation to trend the hashtag #SaveKessab.

Thousands participated in the international targeted tweeting session on Friday, March 28th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm EST, to raise awareness regarding the humanitarian crisis in Kessab and Turkey’s role in the attacks.

“Urging the State Dept. to help Armenians in Syria. Turkey must take immediate action to help prevent attacks on Armenians. #SaveKessab,” tweeted Rep. Sherman, echoing his earlier statement.

“The vicious attacks by al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists against Armenians & other Christians in #Kessab are beyond appalling. #SaveKessab,” stated Rep. Schiff.

State Department “Deeply Troubled” by Kessab Attacks

In a statement followed by an question and answer session during the daily State Department press briefing on Friday, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf explained, “we are deeply troubled by recent fighting and violence that is endangering the Armenian community in Kasab, Syria and has forced many to flee. There are far too many innocent civilians suffering as a result of the war. All civilians, as well as their places of worship, must be protected.”  Harf continued to note, ” We have long had concerns about the threat posed by violent extremists and this latest threat to the Armenian community in Syria only underscores this further.”

Over the past week, thousands of Armenian Americans have contacted President Obama and their Senators and Representatives in response to an ANCA Action Alert (http://www.anca.org/savekessab) urging immediate condemnation of the attacks against the civilian population of Kessab and, specifically, Turkey’s role in facilitating those attacks.

Located in the northwestern corner of Syria, near the border with Turkey, Kessab had, until very recently, evaded major battles in the Syrian conflict. The local Armenian population had increased in recently years with the city serving as safe-haven for those fleeing from the war-torn cities of Yacubiye, Rakka and Aleppo.  On the morning of March 21st, extremist foreign fighters launched a vicious attack on Kessab civilians, forcing them to flee neighboring Latakia and Bassit.

Text of Pallone-Grimm-Valadao-Schiff Letter to President Obama Regarding Kessab

March 28, 2014

The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding credible reports that Islamist rebels entering from Turkey this past weekend were involved in attacks in the Latakia region of Syria, specifically the town of Kessab, which is a predominately Armenian populated area.  Such actions shock the conscious and must be resoundingly condemned.

As the Wall Street Journal reported on March 26th, “For Armenian-Syrians from the town of Kassab [sic] 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.”  These tragic developments are accompanied by disturbing reports of Armenian homes being looted and occupied.  When coupled with a mass exodus of the Armenian community, these events are far too reminiscent of the early days of the Armenian Genocide, which took place nearly 100 years ago in Ottoman Turkey under the cover of World War I.

At the beginning of the 20th century, nearly 6,000 Armenians lived in Kessab.  However, the July 1915 deportation of the Armenian population at the hands of the Ottoman Turks resulted in the loss of nearly 5,000 lives.  Now, ninety-nine years after their initial deportation, another expulsion of Armenians is a telling reminder about the dangers of genocide denial and Turkey’s failure to address its genocidal legacy.

With the Christian Armenian community being uprooted from its homeland, yet again, we strongly urge you to take all necessary measures without delay to safeguard the Christian Armenian community of Kessab.  We also believe that now is the time to redouble America’s efforts to ensure that all minority communities at risk in the Middle East are afforded greater protection.

Thank you for considering this urgent request.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress

MICHAEL GRIMM
Member of Congress

ADAM SCHIFF
Member of Congress

DAVID VALADAO
Member of Congress

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Guest Contributor

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17 Comments

  1. OK condemned but what will be done. Give Assad resources to defeat the people you fought in Afghanistan or tell your ally Turkey to stop giving aid those radicals.
    Words mean nothing. Assad is not doing well over there and was stupid to not have his forces guard the border.

  2. Hopefully the spineless President Obama, and the totally inept and ignorant Department of State, for once they will put aside Turkey’s membership on NATO, their self-interests, and take the necessary steps to pressure Turkey to stop its flagrant violations of human rights .

  3. Why u always twist the reality and try to attach everything into ur so-called genocide drama? Turkey is also suffering from the incursions from Syria.In the same vein three El-Quaede terrorists infiltrated into Turkey and killed innocent people.

    • {“Turkey is also suffering from the incursions from “}

      No it’s not: it is so-called ‘suffering’; where is the proof there were any incursions and Turkey is actually suffering ?

      {“In the same vein three El-Quaede terrorists infiltrated into Turkey and killed innocent people.”}

      No they didn’t: you denialist Turks are making things up; it never happened. “Innocent people killed” ? Where is the evidence ?

  4. We wish to thank our Congressman in Washington for their letter to Pres. Obama on the attacks on the Armenian Community in Kessab, Syria where the Turkish Government sent troops to eliminate the Armenians from the area. Their homes, churches, and businesses have been destroyed and up to 90 some odd people have been killed. We hope the world powers will wake up to what the Turks have done to civilization over the centuries with their motive to eliminate Christians from the face of their occupied lands.

  5. It’s good members of congress condemn the Kessab attacks, but I wonder, are they courageous enough to acknowledge that the US position on Syria is a complete failure, since the Assad government is the only entity on this planet protecting the minorities in Syria such as the Armenians?

    Are they also fixing to condemn Obama for meeting the Saudi Wahabi Alqaeda supporters and agreeing to illegally provide US taxpayer funded anti-aircraft weapons to terrorists against a sovereign Syria, the same terrorists that invaded Kessab with the aid of a NATO member named ‘Turkey’?

  6. Haluk,
    Fact, Armenians of Kessab, Syria are survivors of Genocide.
    Fact, The Al Qaeda affiliated terrorist groups for some times have been operating from Turkey with the clear knowledge of Turkish government and even they have received medical treatment inside of Turkey which also has been on European news.
    Your desperate and deceitful attempt to log your comments here about
    “twist the reality” and “Turkey is also suffering from the incursions” is clearly obvious to every Armenian

  7. what are you talking about? the world media does not even report ONCE a thing of the truth,, obama himself is promising saudis to send air defense to the terrorists, what are you expecting from this charade? who says obama is not THE helper and supporter of the turks and the terrorists so far thats what it looks like, and in action it is proven.

  8. whoever pulls the strings decides who gets what. give it up. nothing helps, morals do not exist, human justice does not exist, truth does not exist in politics. it is one big prostitution nest. you do as we say or else…..therefore they will lie today and tomorrow because they have the “or else” hanging above their heads.
    Armenians have one big mistake; we had to strengthen ourselves so well, build us such a powerful stand, that we would be the ones to get our justice by own hands, alas.

    • you are exactly right world politics is one prostitution nest, when it suits their own interests they cry human rights this is used as a tool. what a hypocrisy we live in. the weak are always trampled on for gas, oil and resources.and innocent people suffer.

  9. i think Armenian and Russian army elite immediately should go to kassab and protect the Armenians usa and Europe can’t depend on them

  10. Why the Congress of our United State does not press the issue of the freedom of press and enforce the correct information to be given by media in USA. Why the news are not screaming about this serious international events in Syria, Kessab (Latikia) on our TVs as they do about anything about any other minor international incidences. What about all the people driven from their homes (600 families), innocent people killed and churches destroyed by Al-Qaida militants that were hired by Turkish government. After all, these events may be resulted in a repeat incidence of massacres of Christians in Syria by Turkish government. I think this issue must be addressed by our government. It is a very serious problem in our free country! Equal information reporting must be enforced by authorities. Where is the freedom of speech?

  11. The TURKS did it again…. How long we have to take this??????
    Obama and administration let this happen. What to expect from this Country?

  12. We must stop the whining and begging. This world is about survival of the fittest. If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen.
    The only way we will get our rights is if we follow the Jewish example. We must help ourselves before asking for help from others. PERIOD. If we can’t do that, then our faith is well deserved.

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