YEREVAN (Armenpress)—The President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian spoke on Thursday at an informal meeting held between the presidents of Russia, Belaus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in Moscow, where he thanked those countries for their stance against the violence unleashed on the Syrian town of Kessab and its largely Armenian population by al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist groups. The Armenian president referred to the April 3, 2014, joint statement by the member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that condemned the violence in Kessab and the displacement of thousands of Armenians who were forced to flee their homes.
President Sarkisian also noted that the CSTO member countries recognized the fact that the extremists who attacked Kessab have been receiving support from Turkey, not least of which includes a safe haven on its border with Syria.
Addressing the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sarkisian emphasized the position of Russia, who, being a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is actively working on different levels for an end to the Syrian crisis. Sarkisian also thanked the Russian Foreign Ministry for its repeated statements supporting the Kessab Armenians.
Being on a working visit to Russia, President Sarkisian also took part in observing training exercises of the Russian Armed Forces, on a day that many post-Soviet countries still commemorate as “Victory Day,” marking the end of World War II.
