Armenian families from Syrian hot spots 'moved to safer areas' after Turkish offensives – Foreign Ministry official

In an interview with Tert.am, the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Middle East and Africa Department, Armen Melkonyan, commented on the situation in and around Syria after the recent Turkish offensives, sharing his concerns over the plight facing the Armenian-populated regions.

According to the diplomat, 13 Armenian families from Tel Abyad and the rest of the families from Ras al-Ayn have been moved to safer areas.

Which of the regions with many Armenians  or traditionally known as 'Armenian-populated' are under target in the wake of Turkey's actions? What reports does the Foreign Ministry have in that connection?

Turkey's military actions target Syria's north-eastern regions lying to the east of Euphrates. Armenians traditionally reside in Qamishli, Ras al-Ayn, Tel Abyad and Dayrik.

What regions are populated by Armenians, and were any families evacuated? What actions were taken in one day and what were the needs of the Armenians?

More active military operations were reported in Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn. At least 13 families from Tel Abyaad and the rest of the families in Ras al-Ayn were moved to safer regions.

What is the situation in Qamishli? Are the missile strikes continuing there?

Qamishli is not a direct target of rocket attacks at the moment. The Armenian Embassy in Damascus and the Armenian Consulate General in Aleppo maintain permanent contact with Armenia, the Armenian community organizations and their leadership. They say the situation there is under control without military actions or rocket attacks. Evacuation now is not a pressing concern there. So the normal course of life continues in the Armenian-populated regions in Qamishli. 

Are there families that refuse to move to other areas?

To the best of our knowledge, several families have stayed in Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn. As for Qamishli, they do not for now consider evacuation so urgent - as I said already.

What is the selected destination for Armenians? Where do they normally settle?

Several of our compatriots who have left Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn have chosen Al-Hassakah or Aleppo.

Are there plans to move some of those families to Armenia?  

If there is such a desire, everything possible will be done, I think, to ensure their transportation to Armenia.

Have any preparatory steps been undertaken? Is Armenia ready to offer aid to the Armenian families and ethnic Armenians [affected] in the bomb attacks?

Possible actions are now being elaborated in collaboration with our diplomatic representations in Damascus and the Armenian organizations in Aleppo to provide temporary shelters and first aid to our compatriots who have expressed desire to move from northern Syria

 Are there any Armenians among those affected in the [military] operations?

 To the best of our knowledge, there aren't.