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'Turkey is responsible of whatever happens in Kessab'

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  • 'Turkey is responsible of whatever happens in Kessab'

    `Turkey is responsible of whatever happens in Kessab'

    Vahakn KeÅ?iÅ?yan
    02.26.2015 09:38 NEWS


    People continue their struggle to survive in Kessab, a town on the
    border of Syria with Turkey in the Hatay province area. Following the
    occupation of the town by Al-Nusra forces last year, the Armenians in
    the town had been dispersed, with most of them coming to Vakıflı
    Village in Hatay, and had returned after the Syrian army had retaken
    the town. However, the people of Kessab now face the threat of ISIS.

    We spoke about the most recent developments with a resident of Kessab
    who asked to remain unnamed:

    `We have no option but to trust the army of our country. We do not
    know what kind of a bargain Kessab is used in, yet our fate is
    determined by these political events. Our biggest problem is the fact
    that we cannot trust our neighbour Turkey. Because we saw Turkey help
    armed groups with our own eyes. We witnessed Kessab military stations
    being shelled by artillery fire from Turkey. No one can guarantee us
    that this will not be repeated. Turkey never denied it was involved in
    the previous events, nor did it provide any reassurance that they
    would not be repeated. So how are we to sleep peacefully at night?

    The political circumstances have turned us into the political hostages
    of the conflicting forces. Even the faintest flame between them costs
    us our lives. But we have to remain here, because we have no
    alternative. Where could we go? We do not want to abandon Kessab. To
    leave Kessab would mean that we are cut off from the land. We cannot
    live apart from the land. We can't even live in Armenia. All we can do
    is to be on alert. We live in fear every day. Snipers target the town,
    which means we can't even go and work in the orchards.

    Others have already left for Latakia (Lazkiye). It is not easy for
    every one to just leave and go. Many who left have returned. We hope
    that these incidents our temporary, and we can go back to working in
    our orchards. There are 250 students at our schools, and their lessons
    continue. In other words, life goes on. Now there is a huge military
    regiment opposite Kessab, and we can see it grow by the day. At night
    you can see its lights even from Latakia. Four years ago, that
    barracks did not exist, yet now it entirely covers the top of Gasios
    Mountain. They have plans, but we do not know what they are. The State
    of Syria has nothing to say. According to conventions, the border is
    protected by Turkey, which means anything that happens in Kessab is
    Turkey's responsibility. Turkey should be the first to respond to the
    attacks.

    `We saw it with our own eyes'

    We do not use the main highway from Kessab to Latakia, because it is
    dangerous and open to attacks. There are Turcoman villages around
    Kessab as well. We lived in harmony and peace with them for decades.
    But now we cannot communicate with them because many people from those
    villages have joined jihadist forces and are being used by the State
    of Turkey. Of course, not all of them have become jihadists, and we
    continue to meet with our close friends, in secret, because they do
    not want it to be known that they are meeting us. We already said what
    we have to say to the UN representative, and we can repeat it now.
    Armed forces would never have entered Kessab without the help of the
    artillery of the army of Turkey. The last time they tried they failed
    at first, but when the bombs arrived from Turkey, the next day they
    entered Kessab. We saw it with our own eyes.'


    http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/10696/turkey-is-responsible-of-whatever-happens-in-kessab

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