Sharmazanov: Attack on Kesab is obvious threat to regional peace

The neighboring country continues to violate the ceasefire, stubbornly rejecting the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ calls for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the vice speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov said in the parliament today.

In his words, a striking demonstration is the death of serviceman Garnik Torosian on March 24. He was shot dead by a sniper on the Line of Contact of the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. “It is obvious that all this is a result of Azerbaijan’s policy of fascism and Armenophobia, although they call their society tolerant. I think many will recall that prior to World War II the Nazis called their movement Christian. Comment is superfluous,” Sharmazanov said.

When speaking about the recent events in the Armenian-populated town of Kesab near the Syrian-Turkish border, Sharmazanov quoted Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan as saying that “it was the third evacuation of the Armenians of Kesab. It is a most serious challenge to the 21st century minority rights protection mechanisms”.

“No doubt, the armed attack on Kesab is a flagrant violation of human rights. In addition to posing an obvious threat to regional peace, it is also a signal for the United Nations and other organizations on human rights protection,” he noted.

We would remind you that on the morning of March 21 attacks were launched on Armenian-populated town of Kesab in Syria from three border points in Turkey. Part of the Kesab population moved to mountains to escape danger, while others were temporarily evacuated to Latakia.