In the last two days, a group of freedom fighters is complaining that they want to go to Kessab to help our compatriots, but NSS does not allow them to leave for Beirut. Recall, that on April 21, the first group of freedom fighters consisting of 5 people tries to leave the Yerevan airport for Beirut, and from there to Latakia where Kessab Armenians have found a shelter. However, they were stopped. The NSS staff did not allow them to get on the plane. The matter that there is a desire to reach out to our fellow citizens, is understandable and a fact, but, on the other hand, there are concerns that any such initiative or statement is considered as a defense move to Bashar al-Assad, and are followed by bombings in the Armenian-populated settlements of Syrian. Pavel Manukyan is in the middle of this photo. To this observation of Aravot.am, Cavalier of the “Battle Cross” of the II rank, major in reserve, Pavel Manukyan, responded as follows. “We were going not to Damascus or Aleppo, but to liberate the Armenian territory, where Kessab Armenians used to live there for thousands of years, and are part of Cilicia. Such statements were also made in the times of Artsakh war, when Russian frontiers guards were not allowing leaving; I remember how we were getting to Artsakh by roundabout roads. The world knows that we are not mercenaries, but we were going to stand beside our fellow citizens. Everything was coordinated there, our need arose, and we were to go there, quite a few of our friends are there. We were not going there to play opposition or government. Our goal was just for these people not to deserve a yataghan for the second time. If we do not make a move now, the Diaspora will also get disappointed.” On this occasion, Aravot.am talked to campaign-related researcher Karen Vrtanesyan. He said, “I don’t have clear data on whether the statements here are causing bombing there, or not. However, it is more likely than any careless word uttered in Armenia or outside Armenia can have a negative impact on overall Armenians. At this point, whatever is done there, whatever Assad’s ruling army does, if someone is eager to join it leaving the border of Armenia, go and take part, he can do it without making noise and television cameras.” To our question of whether Kessab Armenians cause is not our, but Syria’s problem, since this country is in a war, Karen Vrtanesyan responded as follows, “It is our problem as much as we have our countrymen there, and the task of our countrymen anywhere in the world, to some extent, is the task of the Armenian state. I do not think that this matter is solved by shows and statements.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
