The European Ombudsman Institute has responded to Armenian Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan's urgent message and called on all parties to the Syrian conflict to start a direct dialogue.
The European Ombudsman Institute stresses the need to continue the efforts to protect human rights in the region and to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis through constructive cooperation with international organizations.
To recall, on 31 March Human Rights Defender of Armenia Karen Andreasyan issued an urgent message. Andreasyan addressed the message to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, International Ombudsman Institute, European Ombudsman Institute, International Committee of the Red Cross, Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House. The Armenian Ombudsman's message concerned the situation in the predominantly Armenian- populated town of Kessab. Andreasyan stressed that as a result of attacks on Kessab, nearly 80 civilians died, and 670 Armenian families and the major part of the town's population moved to Basit and Latakia.