The targeting of minority communities in Syria continues to elude the international press. The Syrian conflict has resulted in millions of victims — dead, wounded and uprooted. Among them tens of thousands of Armenians, and now several thousand more are added to that total as a result of attacks on Kesab this month. While the international community is engaged in third-party give and take over positions of power and regions of influence, the numbers of victims grow. These victims include minority populations whose histories and allegiances leave them vulnerable, unprotected and suspect. The involvement of the Turkish side in the attack on Kesab is evidence of this. Armenians are not protected by the Syrian sides today, and will remain vulnerable and unprotected tomorrow — both before and most probably after whatever peace is arrived at. Calls by Armenians (and other minorities) to the situation on the ground are ignored, including by the international media, as minority viewpoints. This is CivilNet’s diary of the events that have transformed Syria’s Armenian population into collateral damage.
Last weekend, news began trickling in that residents of the centuries-old Armenian town of Kesab, located on the Turkish-Syria border had been evacuated to Latakia after coming under attack. Syrian rebel forces linked to Al-Qaeda launched an offensive from three different positions from the Turkish border, with the assistance of the Turkish air force on the town and its villages in the early morning hours of March 21. The Armenian population was forced to leave behind their homes in a mass evacuation. Limited Syrian Army positions stationed in and around Kesab were not able to fend off the attack. Fierce fighting in Kesab between the Syrian Army and rebels continue, it is yet unclear what the situation is.
On Saturday, March 22, Abraham Ghazarian, the village mayor of Karaduran, one of the villages of Kesab, in a telephone conversation with CivilNet, reported that rockets from the Turkish border were launched at the village and that the leaders made a decision to evacuate the Armenian population to avoid human losses. During the almost 3-year long war, Kesab had also served as a refuge for hundreds of Armenian families who have fled the violence in other parts of the country, primarily Aleppo and Damascus. A portion of the Armenian population of Kesab that was evacuated to Latakia is being sheltered in the St. Asdvadsadzin Armenian Church, while others are staying with friends and relatives.
Turkey has backed the Syrian rebels, most of them Sunni Islam, who are fighting against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, who is Alawi. During most of the three-year-long conflict, the Alawites have been in control of Syria’s seacoast, including Latakia, up to the Turkish border. But Assad’s forces had lost control of most border crossings with Turkey, except Kesab, until this latest attack which the rebels took by attacking from across the Turkish border.
The Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I contacted the Syrian president’s office to provide for the security of the local population of Kesab. Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdel Karim Ali visited Catholicos Aram I in Antelias, Lebanon on March 22, conveying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s assurances that peace would be restored in Kesab.
Serop Ohanian, director of the Howard Karagheusian Foundation of Lebanon told CivilNet on Sunday, March 23 that there were approximately 600 families in Latakia, most of whom are in need of assistance. Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia sent a delegation of priests to Latakia to do a needs-assessment of the situation. The Emergency Relief Committee of Aleppo established a sub-committee in Latakia to help the stranded Armenians, the Syrian Red Crescent also provided assistance and the UNHCR in Latakia was informed of the situation. Ohanian said that some of the Armenian families who fled in the early morning hours of the attack, were completely caught off guard and unprepared, some were not even able to take their passports and other identification papers in the melee. That same day, Turkish fighter planes downed a Syrian military aircraft that was conducting a mission against the Islamic terrorists in Kesab.
President Serzh Sargsyan who was in the Hague, Netherlands taking part in the Nuclear Security Summit expressed concern over the events in Kesab on March 24. He said, “All of us perfectly remember the history of Kesab, which was unfortunately, full of hellish realities with the deportations of the last century.” He thanked Syrian authorities for the steps taken in protecting the Armenians in Kesab. He also said, “I have already instructed the diplomatic missions at the UN Headquarters in New-York and Geneva to raise the issue of ensuring the security of the Armenians in Kesab and their safe return to their permanent places of residence at the structures dealing with human rights and ethnic minorities.” Sargsyan also spoke with Aram I, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia about the situation of the Armenians of Kesab.
In a written statement, the Armenian National Committee–International, condemned the attacks and Turkey’s role in aiding extremist groups in their attacks against the Christian and minority populations in Syria. “For months, we have warned the international community of the imminent threat posed by extremist foreign fighters against the Christian minority population in Syria. These vicious and unprompted attacks against the Armenian-populated town and villages of Kesab are the latest examples of this violence, actively encouraged by neighboring Turkey. We call upon all states with any influence in the Syrian conflict to use all available means to stop these attacks against the peaceful civilian population of Kesab, to allow them to return to their homes in safety and security. In the last one hundred years, this is the third time that the Armenians are being forced to leave
Kesab and in all three cases, Turkey is the aggressor or on the side of the aggressors,” the statement said.
The Armenian National Committee of Canada issued a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding the situation in Kesab on March 24. In the letter, the ANC requested that Canada call on all sides to immediately cease hostilities in the region to allow for the return of the civilian population; that Canada call on Turkey to secure its border and prevent further incursions in Syrian territory and that Canada direct a portion of the funds allocated for Syrian assistance to the evacuated population of Kesab. In the letter it says: “Kesab is the last remaining outpost of the medieval Armenian principality of Cilicia. Kesab has had a constant Armenian population for almost one thousand years. Although the area has been subject to many disputes between various countries seeking control and to significant persecution of its Armenian population during the Ottoman Empire (including massacres in 1909 and deportation of much of its population during the Armenian Genocide in 1915), until this week’s evacuation, the Christian population has never had to completely flee the region.”
An article appeared on France 24 on March 24 saying that the Armenians of Kesab were victims of ethnic cleansing. Fabrice Balanche, lecturer at the University of Lyon 2 and Director of the Groupe de Recherches et d’Etudes sur la Méditerranée et le Moyen-Orient at the Maison de l’Orient and an expert on Syrian affairs said that the March 21 attack on the town of Kesab by Syrian rebels would not have been possible without the military support and green light of Turkish authorities. The article goes on to say that as early as 2012, a Turkmen rebel fighting alongside other mercenaries warned the Armenians of Kesab that there would be civilian casualties and a second genocide if they did not leave their village before the Free Syrian Army offensive.
Also on March 24, the Armenian National Committee of America called on President Obama and Congress to press Turkey to stop facilitating the attacks by extremist foreign fighters on the Syrian town of Kesab. In a strongly worded letter, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian called on President Obama to direct his Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, and his Ambassador to the United Nations to demand that Turkey halt the cross-border attacks on Kesab that “forced the immediate civilian evacuation of the area and led to the looting of properties and the desecration of churches.” Separately, the ANCA communicated with members of the House Committee on Intelligence, House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee to urge that Congress use its influence to immediately end Turkey’s role in the destruction of Kesab. Hachikian said: “The Armenian American community stands united in seeking to reverse the events of the last several days, which has seen militant extremists stream into Kesab from Turkey. We are strongly urging our government, led by President Obama and Congressional leaders, to send a firm message to Ankara that the safe haven and safe passage being offered to these militant groups intent on destroying Kesab must end.”
The same day, Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Tigran Balayan, said that the issue of displaced Armenians from Kesab is on the forefront of the Ministry’s attention. Balayan stated, “Those that have fled are now in Latakia and we’re trying to find ways to bring help in any possible way.” When asked if it is possible that the Armenians of Kesab will move to Armenia, Balayan responded that in similar situations the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a special procedure to accept Syrian-Armenians and give them citizenship and entrance visas.
In the country’s parliament, a number of members issued a statement, strongly condemning the actions of the Turkish armed forces for assisting Syrian rebels in the attack against Kesab calling it a new challenge against the Armenian Diaspora. They called on Syrian and Turkish authorities to conduct an investigation of the events and demanded that the international community assess the situation by sending in UN observers to the Armenian populated areas of Kesab and called on the government of Armenia to take necessary measures, along with the Diaspora to unify efforts to support the rights of Syrian Armenians.
Concerned over the Armenians targeted and evacuated from Kesab, Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group and Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga Harold Albrecht raised the issue in the Canadian parliament on March 25. He directed a question to David Anderson, the parliamentary secretary of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation of ethnic Armenians. Anderson said that the Canadian government is closely following the events in Syria and that the targeting of individuals based on their ethnicity and religion is a fundamental violation of their human rights.
Also, on March 25, the Armenian National Committee of Australia appealed to the country’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop requesting that the Australian government call on Turkey to “immediately cease the ongoing attacks by various Al-Qaeda affiliated foreign fighters who have targeted the civilian population in the predominantly Armenian region of Kesab, Syria.” In its statement, ANC Australia called on Australia to exercise its leadership position and in its capacity as a member of the UN Security Council “has the moral and legal obligation to stop Turkey’s provocations and the assistance it provides to these radical groups.”
The same day, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin issued a statement regarding the crisis in Kesab. The statement said that His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians had a telephone conversation on March 24 with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia concerning the seizure of the historic village of Kesab by Syrian rebels, “which resulted in the evacuation of the Armenian population, including the destruction and shelling of homes and places of worship.” His Holiness expressed deep concern over the events unfolding in Kesab and condemned the actions of extremists who received assistance from Turkey. The Catholicos of All Armenians affirmed that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and its diocesan structures dispersed throughout the Diaspora will continue to support the Syrian-Armenians, praying for the re-establishment of peace in the lives of the people of Syria and the safe return of the deported and refugee families.
Commenting on the situation in Kesab, the deputy speaker of Armenia’s parliament, Eduard Sharmazanov on Thursday, March 27 said that the attack on the Armenian-populated village of Kesab must be a signal not only to Armenia and the countries in the region, but to the UN, international organizations and the international community that deal with human rights issues. Sharmazanov said that such attacks in the 21st century are unacceptable and went on to say, “Everyone must understand that national minorities are subject to protection under the UN regulations and, in this case, all relevant institutions have things to do.” A special parliamentary delegation from Armenia was dispatched to the region to learn about the situation on the spot.
On March 27, the rebel brigades which infiltrated the village of Kesab issued a statement which read: “We assure our commitment to international humanitarian law by focusing on military targets and avoiding civilian positions like schools, hospitals, houses of worship and homes and will assist the passage of humanitarian aid and will not use internationally banned weapons in civilian areas.” However, eyewitness accounts attest the opposite. In the statements released by the Mother See and the Great House of Cilicia, it was noted that homes have been burned and churches desecrated. Sources in the village of Musa Ler across the Syrian border in Turkey, told Civilnet that there were burning buildings and structures in the village of Karaduran located on the seacoast.
The Republic of Nagorno Karabakh announced that it is ready to extend support to the Armenians of Kesab. Davit Babayan, head of the President’s public relations department said this and added that while it is preferable that the Armenians of Syria remain there and protect the Armenian community, however, if their lives are in danger, then Artsakh is ready to support the Syrian-Armenians using all means at its disposal including provision of housing for their resettlement in Artsakh.
Vahan Badasyan, member of the Nagorno Karabakh parliament and battalion commander during the Karabakh War announced that armed units from Armenia should be dispatched to Kesab to defend the local Armenians. Badasyan said he is ready to lead the men and called on Armenians from the homeland and Diaspora, especially those with military training to come to the defense of the Armenians of Kesab.
Armenian ambassador to Syria, Arshak Poladyan traveled to Latakia to meet with the approximately 600 families that were evacuated from Kesab after it was attacked by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels. Accompanying the ambassador was the delegation of Members of Parliament from Armenia who traveled to the Middle East to see what kind of assistance Armenia can offer to the displaced Armenians. After meeting with the Armenians of Kesab, MP Samvel Farmanyan, said, “I should say the impression was shocking. The situation is like the one we have read about in textbooks and literature about the Armenian Genocide, in the memories of Genocide survivors.” The parliamentarians will present their findings and proposals to the National Assembly when they return.
Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan, during question period in the National Assembly regarding the crisis in Kesab, said that the government of Armenia will do everything in its power to provide assistance to the Armenians of Kesab. Nalbandyan told parliamentarians that upon the return of the Armenian parliamentary delegation, a plan of action would be designed to respond accordingly.
Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea told reporters in Yerevan on March 27 that he is aware of the situation of the Armenians of Kesab. Ambassador Hristea said, “We have already conveyed our message to Brussels and will follow up on how the react to the issue. But our message is clear – attacks against Armenian citizens in Kesab are unacceptable.”
A group of concerned citizens rallied in front the United Nations and NATO offices in Yerevan on March 27 to protest Turkish complicity in the attack on the town of Kesab. The protesters demanded that the UN and NATO send a strong message to their ally, Turkey to refrain from assisting Syrian rebels and other mercenaries from attacks against the Armenians, a Christian minority in Syria. Protestors claim that “this is the continuation of Turkey’s Armenian Genocide program accompanied by the international community’s silent consent.”
The Central Executive Board of the Armenian Relief Society decided to allocate $125 thousand dollars to the relief effort for the Armenians of Kesab. In a press release, the ARS said: “In view of the recent armed aggression on Kesab, Syria, with obvious Turkish military assistance, which has resulted in the forced evacuation of its Armenian population, and after numerous contacts with the local and ARS Syria regional officials, the board voted to help the Kesab refugees now sheltered in Latakia with an allocation of $15,000 to cover their immediate basic needs.”
Reactions to the rebel offensive and subsequent evacuations of the Armenians of Kesab was slow to make its way into the international news cycle. However, the Wall Street Journal published an article by Maria Abi Habib about the rebel attack in Kesab. Habib noted that Kesab was the last Syrian-Turkish border crossing that was still under the Syrian government’s control, so the events of the last few days was symbolic for a variety of reasons none of which were lost on the Armenians of Kesab. The author wrote: “…the Turkish involvement reminded them of a dark chapter in their history: the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman empire in 1915.” In the article, Habib went on to say that when Ankara shot down a Syrian war plane near its border, it was more than the Armenians of Kesab could bear. She wrote: “They claimed an old foe — Turkey — was conspiring against them by allying with a new enemy — Sunni Muslim extremist groups like Nusra.”
Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom issued a statement expressing concern over the attacks on the historic Armenian town. The statement said: “Canada is deeply concerned by the recent attacks by al Qaeda affiliated armed groups on the ancient Armenian town of Kesab in the Latakia district of northern Syria during which Armenian churches were reportedly desecrated and Armenians driven from their homes. The continued attacks against Christians, including Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Christians and Armenian Catholics, in Syria are unacceptable.”
The Armenian National Committee — International and the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy issued a call of action for Kesab to the heads of European Union Institutions, including Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament. A passage from that call reads: “[We] ask you to intervene and stop the organized attacks on the Armenian population, a region that is since centuries predominantly inhabited by Armenians. The civilian population had to be evacuated south to safer regions along the coastline…You…have the authority today to stop Turkey’s aggression against the Armenians of Kesab, and stop the uprooting of a minority group, which already twice has been the target of Turkey’s intolerance. Giving ground assistance and intelligence for cross-border attacks to Al-Qaeda extremists, to target a civilian population should not be tolerated.”
The Monte Melkonian Cyber Army hacked several Turkish sites on March 27 in response to the attack on the town of Kesab. The Cyber army placed an aerial photo of the Turkish-Syrian border and showed the locations where Al Qaeda linked rebels entered the town of Kesab, assisted by Turkish air cover. Ten Turkish sites were hacked in the cyber attack.
Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying that allegations of Turkish support in providing support to the rebels by allowing them to use its territories or through other means during the conflict are quote “totally unfounded and untrue.” The statement goes on to say: “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.” The statement notes that Turkey has been most affected by the conflict and has been trying to eliminate threats and attacks against their national security, citing the March 23 downing of a Syrian war plane by the Turkish air force. And finally, it states: “In accordance with its humanitarian and conscientious responsibility, Turkey notified the relevant UN bodies that Syrian Armenians residing in the Kesab region could be admitted in Turkey too and protection could be provided them.”
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made remarks that appeared to take a tougher stance regarding the conflict. He said that Turkey is ready to take any measures, including cross-border military operations into war-torn Syria, against threats to its national security. According to the Hurriyet Daily, Davutoglu said: “The Turkish republic is a powerful state and never hesitates to take any measures to protect its national security if need be.” He went on to say that no one should test Turkey’s determination. Turkey, who has supported the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shot down a Syrian fighter jet that it said had breached its airspace near Kesab on Sunday.
Turkey has also warned it will protect the Tomb of Süleyman Shah, the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman that is under Turkish jurisdiction but located just 40 kilometers from Aleppo, against threats from Islamist insurgents. Davutoglu said “Turkey is ready to take any legitimate step under international law if its national security, including the area where the tomb of Süleyman Shah is situated, is threatened”
Turkey moved to block access to YouTube after an audio recording of high-level Turkish officials discussing possible military operations in Syria to secure the tomb of the Turkish icon was leaked on March 27. According to the BBC, the leak was posted to YouTube under an anonymous account.
Armenia’s parliamentary delegation who had traveled to Syria to see first-hand the problems and issues with the displaced Armenians, also met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss the future of the historic Armenian town of Kesab. Members of the delegation also met with Speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Laham of the People’s Council [parliament] of Syria who said that there are citizens of three countries, including Turkey and Azerbaijan, among the mercenaries who have infiltrated into Syria.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, sent a second delegation to Latakia and continued with consultations to bring assistance to the evacuated families. His Holiness said that the Armenian Apostolic Church greatly appreciates the calls for support and solidarity from Armenia and throughout the diaspora and said that it is now necessary to consolidate capabilities and take concrete steps to extend immediate support to the Armenians. Financial support will be mobilized and coordinated through the Catholicosate in Antelias. A bank account was set up for donations.
His Holiness Aram I also had a telephone conversation with Jeffrey Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the United Nations. The latter assured the Catholicos that they are concerned with the security issue in Syria and are following the developments closely and in this regard has been in contact with Lakhtar Ibrahimi, the United Nations and Arab League Special Envoy to Syria and has also met with the ambassadors of Armenia and Turkey to the UN. His Holiness, after explaining the situation of the Kesab Armenians, also underscored Turkey’s involvement in the offensive.
On March 27, the Armenian Assembly of America and the Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church of America-Eastern met with US State Department officials regarding the plight of the Armenians of Kesab. During the meeting the Assembly and the Diocese conveyed that the attack upon the peaceful town of Kesab, which has had no part in the Syrian civil war, “is a blatant escalation of the conflict by Islamic extremists.” They also noted that the extremist elements had cross over the border from Turkey “expressly to occupy the last remaining historic Armenian town in the Middle East.”
On March 28, Jonathan O’Dea, a member of the New South Wales Parliament raised the plight of Syrian-Armenians in the Kesab region. On the floor of parliament, O’Dea said, “Some of my constituents have recently raised concerns about reported various ongoing attacks by Al-Qaeda affiliated foreign fighters targeting the civilian population in the predominantly Armenian region of Kesab in Syria. Churches, homes and livelihoods have reportedly been destroyed and people have been taken hostage, forcing the population to flee to neighbouring towns. Common among the innocent civilians targeted are the descendants of Armenians who settled in the local towns after escaping from the Ottoman Turkish authorities between 1915 and 1923. I recognise and endorse the view…that the international community should assist to cease any human rights violations in Syria.”
Also on Friday, March 28, a protest in front of the United Nations office was organized by the Nikol Aghbalyan Student association and the Armenian Youth Federation. The protesters handed a letter to the UN condemning Turkey’s operations in Syria’s predominantly Armenian-populated town of Kesab and demanded the safe return of civilians to their native village. Sergey Shipilov, Security Advisor of the UN’s Department of Safety and Security came out to meet with the demonstrators and receive their letter.
The United States and Russia have also made statements regarding the situation in Kesab. During the daily State Department press briefing on Friday, March 28, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said, “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.” She went on to say, “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.”
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Michael Grimm, Armenian Genocide Resolution Lead Sponsors David Valadao and Adam Schiff and Representatives Brad Sherman, Jim Costa and James McGovern condemned the recent attacks against the Armenian city of Kesab, and urged the State Department to investigate the incursion and take immediate action to safeguard the vulnerable population.
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 Kesab. 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.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday strongly condemning the attacks and taking note of a global Armenian response to the incursion into Kesab by Syrian rebels with the assistance of Turkey. Russia, a long-time ally of Syria also noted that the Armenian parliamentary delegation that traveled to Syria expressed gratitude to the Syrian government for assisting the Armenians of Kesab. The statement went on to say: “It is clear that intensified actions by extremists are aimed at preventing the resumption of intra-Syrian negotiations, depriving Syria of the possibility of a political and diplomatic settlement, undermining the process of Syria’s chemical demilitarization. Such a scenario is unacceptable.”
Also on March 28, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for UN Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos made a statement to the press on Syria. She said, “Just this week thousands of people are reported to have fled a rebel-led offensive near Kesab, close to the border with Turkey, including the Syrian-Armenian population, leading to growing concerns about sectarianism and the targeting of minority communities.”
The Armenians of Kesab continue to be sheltered in Latakia, the historic heartland of Syria’s Alawites and where Bashar al-Assad’s home village of Qardaha is located. Rebel forces which attacked Kesab, headed by the Al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front, Sham al-Islam and Ansar al-Sham are now pushing into the Alawite villages closer to Latakia. This offensive might very well be the most important, to date, in Syria’s three-year-long civil war because if Latakia falls into rebel hands, it may be the battle that topples Assad’s regime.
As the international community and the Armenian government continue to weigh in, often in response to calls by the worldwide Armenian community, the future of the descendants of those who were vulnerable in the same place, in the same way, exactly 100 years ago, remains uncertain.
