ANKARA: Turkey Welcomes Syrian Armenians

TURKEY WELCOMES SYRIAN ARMENIANS

Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 2 2014

Syrian Armenians fleeing clashes between the Assad regime and Free
Syrian Army are welcome in Turkey for security and shelter, says
Foreign Minister Davutoglu

Serdar Karagöz

BRUSSELS — Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking to
Daily Sabah on his way to the NATO summit in Brussels, said Turkey
would remain sensitive to developments in the region and follow an
independent foreign policy, despite the fact that such policies often
draw opposition from various groups around the world.

The foreign minister said recently published news about Turkey in
foreign media needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Davutoglu added
that some organs had insinuated that there were links between al-Qaeda
and Turkey, dismissing these claims as “black propaganda.”

“Turkey’s name cannot be mentioned in the same sentence as al-Qaeda or
any of its affiliates. This is deliberate propaganda,” he said. The
foreign minister said Turkey’s stance vis-a-vis Syria was clear
and was based on humanitarian objectives, noting that international
organizations have praised the country’s efforts in helping Syrian
refugees numerous times.

He said Turkey had also made humanitarian needs a priority concerning
the recent clashes in the Kasab region, where Armenians lived. “Turkey
has opened its door to Armenians caught in the crossfire. I personally
spoke to Armenian foundations and [members of the] community in order
to ensure Armenian refugees knew they were welcome in Turkey,” he said.

Davutoglu said Armenians fleeing clashes between the Assad regime and
the Free Syrian Army had begun to arrive in Turkey, adding that Turkey
was ready to do anything for Armenians’ security and peace of mind.

Yesterday, two Armenian sisters, Surpuhi (80) and Satenik (82)
Titizyan, who had fled their home in Kasab, arrived at the Yayladagı
Customs post and were received at the Yayladagı Teachers Home.

The sisters, greeted by Yayladagı local administrator Turan Yılmaz
and municipal police chief Akif Kızılkaya, thanked Turkish officials
for their help and invited Yılmaz to visit them in their home village
when the violence ends. The sisters later contacted their relatives
living in Turkey and said they would travel to the Armenian village
of Vakıflı, officials said.