ANCA to join Schiff, Sherman at Capitol Hill press conference spotli

ANCA to join Schiff, Sherman at Capitol Hill press conference
spotlighting Kessab crisis

12:01 05.04.2014

On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, the Armenian National Committee of America
will join Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and
other Members of Congress at a press conference on the steps of the
Capitol Building to discuss recent attacks on Armenians and other
Christians in Kessab, Syria.

The press conference, scheduled to take place at 11:30 am at the House
Triangle on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, will also call on U.S. House
and Senate intelligence committees to launch formal inquiries into
Turkey’s role in this al-Qaeda linked aggression.

“From the start of the Syrian Civil War, I have been focused on trying
to bring an end to the conflict, and on the plight of Syria’s minority
populations, and especially the Christian community,” stated
Congressman Schiff. “The barbaric assault on Kessab is the latest
tragedy to befall Syrian Christians over the last three years and we
must redouble our efforts to protect this historic community and
others just like it.”

“As a nation, we must have zero-tolerance for a NATO ally conspiring
with the enemies of the United States to target religious minorities,”
stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, who will be speaking at
the press conference. “It is in this spirit that we are asking for an
immediate Congressional investigation into Turkey’s role in the attack
on Kessab.”

Last week, the State Department announced that it was “deeply
troubled” by the recent violence in the historically Armenian
populated city of Kessab, Syria, but stopped short of condemning
Turkey’s role in facilitating the attacks by the al-Qaeda affiliated
extremist forces that have forced the Armenian and civilian
populations to evacuate the region.

Since the initial attack that took place on March 21, 2014, Senate
Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ, Chairwoman
of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Senator Dianne
Feinstein, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone
(D-NJ) and Michael Grimm (R-NY), Armenian Genocide Resolution Lead
Sponsors David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), and
Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), James McGovern
(D-MA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and David Cicilline (D-RI) have released
public statements on this subject.

Over the past two weeks, thousands of Armenian Americans and human
rights activists across the United States have contacted President
Obama and their Senators and Representatives in response to an ANCA
Action Alert () urging immediate
condemnation of the attacks against the civilian population of Kessab
and, specifically, Turkey’s role in facilitating those attacks.
Hundreds of thousands worldwide, including celebrities Kim and Khloe
Kardashian, Travis Barker of Blink 182, Serj Tankian of System of A
Down, and Cher, have raised awareness via social media and the use of
the #SaveKessab hashtag.

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 21, rebels associated with Al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra Front, Sham
al-Islam and Ansar al-Sham crossed the Turkish border and attacked the
Armenian civilian population of Kessab, forcing them to flee to
neighboring Latakia and Bassit. The attackers immediately seized two
guard posts 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 a Turkish military position. Turkish media reported
that the attackers carried their injured back to Turkey for treatment
in the town of Yayladagi.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress