Dear Mr. President Bashar al-Assad!I observe with a deep concern the situation taking place today in Syrian Republic.
Your country, in which tens of thousands of our countrymen united in the Circassian diaspora, had found their shelter, is experiencing trully troubled times now. Concerns that Circassian diaspora may be the most vulnerable among the population of Syrian Republic, also appear. Already there are reports that among the victims of the events taking place in Syria, there were representatives of the local Circassian diaspora.
For over a hundred years our people faithfully served Syrian Republic, its people, actively participated in the creation of the armed forces of Syria, defending its borders from the enemies, making a great contribution to the national economy. Many Circassians became doctors, lawyers, economists and active participants in the business sphere, were and still are the law-abiding citizens of your country.
As the citizens of Syrian Republic, Circassians, however, have not lost the memory about their origin, preserved their language, customs and traditions, clearly identifying themselves as Circassians. At the historic homeland - Adygeya Republic, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia – they watch with pain and anxiety the growing tensions in the Republic of Syria.
The leadership of Adygeya Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia had adopted statements about their willingness, if necessary, to take onto the historic homeland the countrymen from Republic of Syria. The World Congress of the Abkhaz-Abaza people, the other Circassian public organizations are holding the current events in Syria under the constant control, receiving information from different sources.
I ask you, Mr. President, to do everything you can in order to protect our fellow citizens in your country, to prevent the tragedy in relation to the Circassians, who, in their tragic history had already survived a terrible tragedy that led to the exile of a great number of people from outside their home country.
With all respect to you and to the whole people of Syria, a part of which today our countrymen are,
Coordinator of the International human rights movement, Adviser of the President of the World Congress of the Abkhaz-Abaza people
Beslan Kobakhia