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PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
March 28, 2014
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA APPLAUDS ARMENIAN CAUCUS LETTER ON KESSAB
State Department "Deepy Troubled" by Attack Against Kessab Armenians
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly)
applauded the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and
Michael Grimm (R-NY), along with Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsors
Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), for sending a letter to
President Obama on the recent siege on Kessab, Syria, reported the
Assembly. "We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding
credible reports that Islamist rebels entering from Turkey this past
weekend were involved in attacks in the Latakia region of Syria,
specifically the town of Kessab, which is a predominately Armenian
populated area. Such actions shock the conscious and must be resoundingly
condemned," the letter reads in part.
In addition to the Caucus letter, earlier today, Congressman James McGovern
(D-MA), who Co-Chairs the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued a
strongly worded statement condemning the attacks and called for an
investigation into reports of Turkish involvement. "I am deeply concerned
by the reports that these attacks allegedly originated in Turkey and demand
that the United States and international community conduct a thorough and
critical investigation of these claims," McGovern said. Meanwhile,
yesterday Congressman Schiff, who sits on the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, said that "The vicious attacks by al Qaeda
affiliated terrorists against Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian
town of Kessab in northern Syria are beyond appalling."
The Armenian Caucus letter comes on the heels of the Assembly's March 24
letter to President Obama which called on the Administration "to take all
steps necessary to not only safeguard the Christian Armenian community of
Kessab, but to increase efforts in coordination with the United Nations to
ensure that all minority communities are afforded greater protection." "In
addition, we urge President Obama to make it publicly clear that the United
States will not tolerate its NATO ally's policy of providing support to
extremist groups," the Assembly's letter stated. On Wednesday, March 26,
the Assembly firmly condemned the attacks on Armenians in Syria. Days after
the Assembly's letter, executive director Bryan Ardouny, and Archbishop
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate for the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), met
with officials at the U.S. Department of State to directly express the
concerns of the Armenian American community and to outline steps that the
United States can take to assist and safeguard the Kessab Armenians.
During today's State Department daily press briefing, spokeswoman Marie
Harf stated, "We are deeply troubled by recent fighting and violence that
is endangering the Armenian community in Kessab, Syria, and has forced many
to flee. "
"We have seen some statements by groups fighting in Kessab saying they will
not target civilians and will respect minorities and holy places," she
said. "We expect those commitments to be upheld. The United States will
continue its steadfast support to those affected by violence in Syria and
throughout the region, including Syrian Armenians. 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,"
the Harf said.
"We applaud the action of the Armenian Caucus and welcome the statements of
Congressmen Schiff and McGovern," stated Assembly executive director Bryan
Ardouny. "Given the urgency of the matter, we must press forward to ensure
that the Christian Armenian community in Syria is safeguarded," Ardouny
said.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-013
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
March 28, 2014
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA APPLAUDS ARMENIAN CAUCUS LETTER ON KESSAB
State Department "Deepy Troubled" by Attack Against Kessab Armenians
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly)
applauded the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and
Michael Grimm (R-NY), along with Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsors
Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), for sending a letter to
President Obama on the recent siege on Kessab, Syria, reported the
Assembly. "We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding
credible reports that Islamist rebels entering from Turkey this past
weekend were involved in attacks in the Latakia region of Syria,
specifically the town of Kessab, which is a predominately Armenian
populated area. Such actions shock the conscious and must be resoundingly
condemned," the letter reads in part.
In addition to the Caucus letter, earlier today, Congressman James McGovern
(D-MA), who Co-Chairs the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued a
strongly worded statement condemning the attacks and called for an
investigation into reports of Turkish involvement. "I am deeply concerned
by the reports that these attacks allegedly originated in Turkey and demand
that the United States and international community conduct a thorough and
critical investigation of these claims," McGovern said. Meanwhile,
yesterday Congressman Schiff, who sits on the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, said that "The vicious attacks by al Qaeda
affiliated terrorists against Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian
town of Kessab in northern Syria are beyond appalling."
The Armenian Caucus letter comes on the heels of the Assembly's March 24
letter to President Obama which called on the Administration "to take all
steps necessary to not only safeguard the Christian Armenian community of
Kessab, but to increase efforts in coordination with the United Nations to
ensure that all minority communities are afforded greater protection." "In
addition, we urge President Obama to make it publicly clear that the United
States will not tolerate its NATO ally's policy of providing support to
extremist groups," the Assembly's letter stated. On Wednesday, March 26,
the Assembly firmly condemned the attacks on Armenians in Syria. Days after
the Assembly's letter, executive director Bryan Ardouny, and Archbishop
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate for the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), met
with officials at the U.S. Department of State to directly express the
concerns of the Armenian American community and to outline steps that the
United States can take to assist and safeguard the Kessab Armenians.
During today's State Department daily press briefing, spokeswoman Marie
Harf stated, "We are deeply troubled by recent fighting and violence that
is endangering the Armenian community in Kessab, Syria, and has forced many
to flee. "
"We have seen some statements by groups fighting in Kessab saying they will
not target civilians and will respect minorities and holy places," she
said. "We expect those commitments to be upheld. The United States will
continue its steadfast support to those affected by violence in Syria and
throughout the region, including Syrian Armenians. 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,"
the Harf said.
"We applaud the action of the Armenian Caucus and welcome the statements of
Congressmen Schiff and McGovern," stated Assembly executive director Bryan
Ardouny. "Given the urgency of the matter, we must press forward to ensure
that the Christian Armenian community in Syria is safeguarded," Ardouny
said.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-013