APR 2 2014

RULES, ELECTIONS & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RElA IONS

Resolution

WHEREAS, In March 2011, the Syrian conflict began with protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime; and

WHEREAS, the United Nations estimates that more than 100,000 Syrians have lost their lives in the escalating conflict between forces loyal to the Assad regime and those opposed to it; and

WHEREAS, is a place that has enormous significance to Armenian-Americans and around the world; and

WHEREAS, throughout history, Syria has repeatedly been a place of refuge for Armenians fleeing instability, oppression and atrocities; and

WHEREAS, even before Armenia became the world's first Christian nation in 301 AD, Armenians frequently travelled to , one of the earliest centers of Christian teaching; and

WHEREAS, later, particularly after the decline of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in the 14th Century, large numbers of Armenians settled in Syrian areas including , , Antioch, and Kessab; and

WHEREAS, during the beginning in 1915, countless Armenian victims were subjected to death marches from their native villages into the Syrian desert, particularly in the area of Deir Zor, is a place of sacred memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, following the Genocide, many survivors took refuge in Syrian villages and cities; and

WHEREAS, Kessab is a Syrian city with a majority Christian Armenian population and it is the home of relatives and loved ones of many Armenian-American families living in Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, located in the northwestern corner of Syria, near the border of , Kessab remained peaceful throughout most of the current Syrian conflict, and it had in fact become a place of safe haven for Christians in Syria escaping violence elsewhere in the country, until March 21, 2014; and

WHEREAS, tragically, on that date Kessab came under brutal attack from Islamist forces associated with AI Qaeda; and

WHEREAS, snipers have targeted the civilian population and launched mortar attacks on the town and the surrounding villages; and WHEREAS, the attacks forced the population of the city to flee to neighboring hills, with many seeking safe-haven in the nearby cities of and Basit; and

WHEREAS, militia of the Al Qaeda affiliate Al Nusra have invaded Kessab, crossing the border from Turkey without any effort by Turkish officials to restrict them; and

WHEREAS, there are now widespread reports of looting and desecration of Armenian and other Christian sacred places in Kessab; and

WHEREAS, the Christian people who trace their ancestral roots in Kessab for nearly two millennia have been forced to for their lives with only the clothes on their backs; and

WHEREAS, in light ofthe violence in Kessab and throughout Syria, the City Council of the City of Los Angeles stands in solidarity with the people of Kessab and extends our hopes that they are able to find peace and safety and return to their homes quickly;

. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,that by the adoption of this resolution, with the concurrence of the Mayor, the City of Los Angeles hereby includes in its 2013 and 2014 Federal Legislative Program support and sponsorship of any legislation and/or administrative action that would facilitate the safe return of the people of Kessab to their homes and lead to a full investigation of Turkey's role in enabling this attack and imposing appropriate remedies.

Presented by: PAUL KREKORIAN Councilmernber, 2nd District APR 02 2014