YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian authorities experience a lot of pain regarding the ongoing clashes and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria, which has caused thousands of casualties, including about 90 Syrian-Armenians. This was stated by the Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan, commenting by the request of “Armenpress” on the information, which appeared in Arab mass media, that the National Coalition for Syrian Opposition had sent a message, stating about the important role of the Armenian community in the life of Syria.

-Recently, some Arab mass media have been reporting, that the leadership of the National Coalition for Syrian Opposition reflected on the situation of the Kessab-Armenians and the town of Kessab. How would you comment on their message addressed to the Armenian authorities as well?

-Armenia and the Armenian diaspora all over the world follow with alarm the tragic developments that have been going on for three years in Syria, and are deeply concerned about the fate of the friendly Syrian people, the inseparable part of which is the Syrian-Armenian community. We feel pain for the ongoing clashes and the worsening humanitarian situation in the country, which caused thousands of casualties, including about 90 Syrian-Armenians.

In the result of the hostilities the Armenian community of Syria has been greatly affected, homes, churches, schools have been damaged, many Armenians have left their homes, a number of settlements of Jazira and Latakia regions have been totally abandoned by the Armenians. Recently, the same has happened in Kessab town populated by Armenians. Although, fortunately, there have been no victims, Kessab has completely been emptied: hundreds of Syrian-Armenian families have abandoned their homes and belongings, finding refuge in safer places of that region. The facts suggest that Turkey has provided its territory at the disposal of the fighters to have access to Kessab.