YEREVAN. – The attack on Armenian-populated Kessab is a strong signal not solely to Armenia and the countries in the region, but to the UN, international organizations and the international community, which deal with human rights issues. 

Armenia National Assembly Vice-Speaker, ruling Republican Party Press Secretary Eduard Sharmazanov told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Sharmazanov commented on the latest developments occurring in Syria’s predominantly Armenian-populated town of Kessab.

In his view, such attacks are unacceptable in the 21st century, and President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has clearly stated this.  

“It does not matter what objectives the terrorists pursue. One thing is important: man is the greatest value in the 21st century.

“Everyone must understand that national minorities are subject to protection under the UN regulations and, in this case, all relevant institutions have things to do,” Eduard Sharmazanov stressed.

In the early morning on March 21, armed militants from the Jabhat al-Nusra Islamic terrorist group infiltrated into northern Syria’s Latakia Governorate, which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians and Alawites. Two large groups of terrorists had launched the attack from Turkey. Numerous displaced Kessab Armenians are currently sheltered in Latakia city. On March 23, Turkish fighter planes downed a Syrian military aircraft that was conducting a mission against the Islamic terrorists in Kessab. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had promised Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church to do everything possible to protect the Armenians in Kessab.