U.S. Congressmen Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Frank Pallone, Judi Chu, Jim Costa, Ana Eshew and the ANCA have condemned the forceful deportations of the population of Syria’s historic town of Kessab and Turkey’s support to the terrorist groups linked to Al-Qaeda. As the ANCA told “ArmenPress”, the Congressmen issued a statement during an April 8 press conference in Congress, calling on the U.S. government to provide more support to the deportees and initiate an investigation into Turkey’s role in Al-Qaeda’s terrorist acts. Executive Director of the ANCA Aram Hamparian expressed gratitude to the Congressmen and emphasized: “The attacks were organized with the overt support of the Turkish army. We have to show zero tolerance of any NATO ally that works with groups linked to Al-Qaeda to attack religious minorities. That’s why we support the calls addressed to the investigation committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate to investigate Turkey’s role in the attacks on Kessab. We deserve to be informed when our allies, possibly also the forces, are used against the Christians in the Near East.”

Congressman Schiff said he had talked to the President about the issue, had asked U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power questions and had called on the Appropriations Committee to support the Christians in Syria.

“In addition, I will ask the manager of USAID Rajiv Shah to provide information about our efforts to support the Christians in Syria,” said Schiff.