President Serge Sarkisian made a press statement concerning the events in Kessab at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague. The President expressed his deep concern over the events in Kessab. “All of us perfectly remember the history of Kessab, which was unfortunately, full of hellish realities deportations in the last century,” said Sarkisian.
Serge Sarkisian (Photo: president.am)
The President of Armenia reminded that the first scourge was back in April 1909 when the Turkish armed detachments invaded Kessab. The Armenians took shelter on the heights of Karadouran and on the coast. After setting Kessab on fire and plundering it, Turks made their way to Karadouran, burned and looted the houses of that district. A French ship transported Armenians to Latakia. After living in Latakia for one year, the population returned to Kessab and reconstructed their houses.
Sarkisian also recalled another date, 1915, when the Kessab population was deported during the Armenian Genocide. Armenians of Kessab were exiled in two directions: to Der Zor and to Jordan. Thousands died en route, the majority of whom in the desert of Der Zor.
“The third deportation of Kessab Armenians today is a serious challenge to ethnic minority rights’ protection mechanisms of the 21st century. I think everyone should realize these sobering parallels,” underlined Sarkisian.
The president thanked the Syrian authorities for the steps being taken to protect the Armenians in Kessab at this difficult moment.
“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 Kessab and their safe return to their permanent places of residence at venues dealing with human rights and ethnic minorities,” said Sarkisian.
Also on March 24, the president had a discussion about the situation with the Catholicos Aram I.
Sarkisian said that the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Syria will embark on a series of measures to support the Armenians of Kessab.