Delegates of the French-Armenian community, including co-chair of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France Ara Toranian and representative of the ARF-D Western Europe Central Committee Hrach Varjabedian discussed the issue of Kessab during a meeting with leader of the right-wing opposition party’s faction in the French Parliament, Deputy Christian Jacob. The faction’s deputies Valery Buaye and Philippe Meonie also attended the meeting.

The Armenian delegates talked about the latest events in Kessab and discussed the situation facing ethnic minorities in the Middle East, particularly the Syrian-Armenians.

The delegates particularly underlined Turkey’s signal to Kessab and demanded that the French government clearly expressits position and pressure the Jihad terrorist group to leave the Armenian-populated city in order to have the rightful owners return to their homes and to guarantee their safety.

The members of the faction, who were aware of the situation, expressed their commitment and pledged to address a letter to the government at the upcoming plenary sessions of the Parliament and the Senate on Apr. 23 and 28. Moreover, during the sessions of the two chambers of parliament, the faction will demand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clearly express its position on the issue and the French government’s policy without any maneuvering. Finally, the faction also condemned the groundless and incomprehensible silence of the West amid the dangerous and offensive policy against Kessab.

ARF-D France Armenian National Committee Office