A meeting in defense of the Armenians of Syria’s Armenian-populated town of Kessab was held in the yard of Holy Translators’ Church in the Sasun district of Tehran on Apr. 6.

The meeting was sponsored by the Armenian Diocese of Tehran and was held with the support and participation of all unions and public entities of the Diocese. The events devoted to the Armenians of Kessab will be ongoing as long as the issue of genocide remains unsolved.

Deputy of the Armenians of Northern Iran in the Islamic Parliament of Iran, Dr. Karen Khanlarian gave a speech on the Armenians of Kessab, which was followed by the message of Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sepuh Sarkisian, who is currently on a working visit to Syria. The message particularly states: “Today, all Armenians stand united as one and are trying to support the Syrian-Armenian. They are clung to national valuesand are fighting with the vision for the homeland and the people.

We commend the wise, reasonable policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the crisis in the Middle East, particularly the crisis in Syria.

Let’s believe and act and continue with the vision for one nation, one people, one Church and one Homeland. Be rest assured that we will turn our dream into a reality someday.”

Representatives of the organizing committee talked about the safety of the Armenians of Kessab, after which the gathered watched videos about the situation facing the Armenians of Kessab.

The Iranian-Armenian community has also sent a letter of protest to foreign embassies in Iran, particularly the embassies of EU-member states, including the Russian Federation, China, Japan, India and Canada, as well as the UN House in Iran. The representatives of the community presented the latest events in Kessab and the Armenians’ claims.

The following was particularly stated in the letter: “The international community must make sure that it will put an end to the violence and the violation of the rights of citizens and minoroities and that Turkey will be punished and will warned about the ongoing cooperation with terrorist groups.

We condemn any support to the terroriosts and those speaking on behalf of the human rights defender.”

Among the attendees were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Iran Grigor Arakelyan, Consul and Advisor of the Republic of Armenia, Deputy of the Armenians in Northern Iran in the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Karen Khanlarian, representatives of the legislative and executive bodies of the Diocese of Tehran, as well as representatives of Alik Institution and Alik Dailyand several Armenians of Tehran.