The ARF Eastern US Central Committee has issued the following announcement pledging its solidarity with the people of Kessab, which has been under siege since Friday when rebel gunmen entered Syria from Turkey and began attacking the population. The ARF has strongly condemned the attack and is urging the international community to intervene and deter Turkey from aiding and abetting the rebel fighters.
Below is the text of the announcement.
By now, readers are aware of the brutal, unprovoked attacks by rebel groups upon the peaceful population of Kessab. These attacks have uprooted a centuries-old community, consisting mainly of Armenians as well as other minorities in northern Syria, and are the cause of great concern and uncertainty.
We strongly condemn this act of terrorism, which in all likelihood was aided and abetted by Turkey, and which violates long-standing border agreements between Turkey and Syria. While Syrian forces now wage combat in an attempt to drive out the militants, we are doing our utmost to mobilize the international community, especially the US, to pressure those sponsoring this invasion to leave the town to its rightful residents.
Both on the state and federal levels, the Armenian National Committee of America, beginning last Friday, has met with influential US officials to inform them about these developments and to ask that they join a campaign in urging the White House to use its influence to halt Turkey’s direct or indirect role in the attacks. These efforts are ongoing.
The ANCA is also informing human rights organizations and United Nations non-governmental organizations about the fate of Kessab, and will seek their assistance in efforts to confront this human tragedy.
At the community level, the ARF is in touch with our leading organizations, seeking to expand the existing relief efforts, led by the Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund. Our immediate goal is to carry out targeted, emergency assistance for displaced Kessab residents who now reside temporarily in nearby Latakia.
We will continue our efforts, and have no doubt about the support of the entire Armenian-American community.
ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION
Eastern US Central Committee