Armenian FM Calls for Preventing Terrorists from Penetrating into Syria, Attacking Peaceful Civilians

MOSCOW, YEREVAN- Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has stressed that the armed terrorist groups which attacked the town of Kessab in Lattakia countryside and displaced its people, both Syrians and Armenians, have infiltrated across the Turkish borders with a blatant support by the Turkish government of Recepe Tayyib Erdogan.

 The Armenian top diplomat was quoted on Wednesday by the Russian Itar Tass News agency as saying “Al Qaeda-linked armed groups have penetrated into Kessab from Turkey. We should prevent terrorists from penetrating into Syria and attacking peaceful civilians.”

He added that Armenia has been doing its utmost to ensure the interests of Armenians in Syria.

“About 120,000 Armenians live in Syria, in Kessab and other areas. The difficult security and humanitarian situation have forced Armenians to leave the city. About 700 families are staying in Latakia. About 70-80 families have found shelter in churches,” Nalbandian said.

“Armenians in Kessab are in dire need of humanitarian aid. We have made corresponding statements. We have sent letters to different international organizations, including to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,” he added, hailing Russia’s reaction to the events,” Nalbandian said.

In the same context, Scores of Armenian youths staged a sit in in front of the US Embassy in Yerevan to urge the American Administration to condemn the support and cover being provided by Erdogan to the armed terrorist groups in Syrian in general and in Kessab in particular.

H. Mustafa