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Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org
PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
SENATOR BIDEN INTRODUCES RESOLUTION CONDEMNING HRANT DINK'S MURDER &
HONORING HIS LEGACY
Washington, DC - Today, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) introduced legislation condemning the
assassination of Hrant Dink and honoring his legacy of tolerance and
peaceful change.
"We commend Senator Biden for spearheading this important legislation,"
said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The atmosphere that led to this
killing must be changed, starting with the repeal of Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code. As a moral leader, America must ensure that minority
populations in Turkey are afforded every protection."
Dink, who worked hard to foster dialogue and understanding between
Armenians and Turks, was gunned down outside his newspaper office on
January 19 in Istanbul, Turkey. An outspoken advocate for democratic
reform, Dink stood trial several times for his public comments on the
genocide and was convicted in October 2005 for "insulting Turkishness"
under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. He received a six-month
suspended sentence and was set to appear in court again in March 2007
for affirming the Armenian Genocide.
"Hrant Dink was a leading voice in Turkey's Armenian community and an
eloquent advocate for human rights, press freedom, and democracy,"
Senator Biden told the Assembly. "His assassination was an outrage and
a tragedy. Hrant's legacy deserves the Senate's respect. His murder
demands our action."
The Senate bill is similar to H. Res. 102, which was introduced by
Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) on January 29 with the support of the
Armenian Assembly. The Biden resolution condemns Dink's assassination
and supports Turkey's pledge to conduct an exhaustive investigation into
his killing. Furthermore, the legislation urges Turkey to take
appropriate action to protect freedom of speech in Turkey by repealing
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes public
discussion on the Armenian Genocide. The resolution also calls on
Turkey to reestablish full diplomatic, political and economic relations
with Armenia.
For more information on Hrant Dink, including Assembly statements, media
coverage, photographs, and video from the memorial service at St. Mary's
Armenian Apostolic Church, please visit the Hrant Dink Resource Page on
the Assembly's Web site at http://www.aaainc.org/httpdocs/hrantdink.htm.
Th e Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2007-022
Editor's Note: Below is the full text of the Biden Resolution, which was
introduced today in the United States Senate.
110TH CONGRESS
S. RES.
RESOLUTION
Condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist and human rights
advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of Turkey to honor his legacy
of tolerance.
Whereas Hrant Dink was a respected, eloquent advocate for press freedom,
human rights, and reconciliation;
Whereas, in 1996, Mr. Dink founded the weekly bilingual newspaper Agos
and, as the paper's editor in chief, used the paper to provide a voice
for Turkey's Armenian community;
Whereas Mr. Dink was a strong proponent of rapprochement between Turks
and Armenians and worked diligently to improve relations between those
communities;
Whereas Mr. Dink's commitment to democratic values, nonviolence, and
freedom in the media earned him widespread recognition and numerous
international awards;
Whereas Mr. Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal
Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide;
Whereas, notwithstanding hundreds of threats to Mr. Dink's life and
safety, he remained a steadfast proponent of pluralism and tolerance;
Whereas Mr. Dink was assassinated outside the offices of Agos in
Istanbul, Turkey, on January 19, 2007;
Whereas tens of thousands of people in Turkey of many ethnicities
protested Mr. Dink's killing and took to the streets throughout the
country to honor his memory;
Whereas the Government of Turkey has pledged to undertake a full
investigation into the murder of Mr. Dink;
Whereas the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has stated
that when Mr. Dink was shot, "a bullet was fired at freedom of thought
and democratic life in Turkey";
Whereas the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, stated that
Mr. Dink "lived his life in the belief that there can be understanding,
dialogue and peace amongst peoples"; and
Whereas Mr. Dink's tragic death affirmed the importance of promoting the
values that he championed in life: Now, therefore, be it
1 Resolved, That the Senate -
(1) condemns the murder of Hrant Dink as a shameful act of cowardice
perpetrated with contempt for law, justice, and decency;
(2) supports the pledge of the Government of Turkey to conduct an
exhaustive investigation into the assassination of Mr. Dink and to
prosecute those responsible;
(3) urges the Government of Turkey to repeal Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code and work diligently to foster a more open intellectual
environment in the country that is conducive to the free exchange of
ideas;
(4) recognizes the decision of the Government of Turkey to invite senior
Armenian religious and political figures to participate in memorial
services for Mr. Dink;
(5) calls on the Government of Turkey to act in the interest of regional
security and prosperity and reestablish full diplomatic, political, and
economic relations with the Government of Armenia; and
(6) urges the people of Turkey to honor Mr. Dink's legacy of tolerance.
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org
PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
SENATOR BIDEN INTRODUCES RESOLUTION CONDEMNING HRANT DINK'S MURDER &
HONORING HIS LEGACY
Washington, DC - Today, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) introduced legislation condemning the
assassination of Hrant Dink and honoring his legacy of tolerance and
peaceful change.
"We commend Senator Biden for spearheading this important legislation,"
said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The atmosphere that led to this
killing must be changed, starting with the repeal of Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code. As a moral leader, America must ensure that minority
populations in Turkey are afforded every protection."
Dink, who worked hard to foster dialogue and understanding between
Armenians and Turks, was gunned down outside his newspaper office on
January 19 in Istanbul, Turkey. An outspoken advocate for democratic
reform, Dink stood trial several times for his public comments on the
genocide and was convicted in October 2005 for "insulting Turkishness"
under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. He received a six-month
suspended sentence and was set to appear in court again in March 2007
for affirming the Armenian Genocide.
"Hrant Dink was a leading voice in Turkey's Armenian community and an
eloquent advocate for human rights, press freedom, and democracy,"
Senator Biden told the Assembly. "His assassination was an outrage and
a tragedy. Hrant's legacy deserves the Senate's respect. His murder
demands our action."
The Senate bill is similar to H. Res. 102, which was introduced by
Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) on January 29 with the support of the
Armenian Assembly. The Biden resolution condemns Dink's assassination
and supports Turkey's pledge to conduct an exhaustive investigation into
his killing. Furthermore, the legislation urges Turkey to take
appropriate action to protect freedom of speech in Turkey by repealing
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes public
discussion on the Armenian Genocide. The resolution also calls on
Turkey to reestablish full diplomatic, political and economic relations
with Armenia.
For more information on Hrant Dink, including Assembly statements, media
coverage, photographs, and video from the memorial service at St. Mary's
Armenian Apostolic Church, please visit the Hrant Dink Resource Page on
the Assembly's Web site at http://www.aaainc.org/httpdocs/hrantdink.htm.
Th e Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2007-022
Editor's Note: Below is the full text of the Biden Resolution, which was
introduced today in the United States Senate.
110TH CONGRESS
S. RES.
RESOLUTION
Condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist and human rights
advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of Turkey to honor his legacy
of tolerance.
Whereas Hrant Dink was a respected, eloquent advocate for press freedom,
human rights, and reconciliation;
Whereas, in 1996, Mr. Dink founded the weekly bilingual newspaper Agos
and, as the paper's editor in chief, used the paper to provide a voice
for Turkey's Armenian community;
Whereas Mr. Dink was a strong proponent of rapprochement between Turks
and Armenians and worked diligently to improve relations between those
communities;
Whereas Mr. Dink's commitment to democratic values, nonviolence, and
freedom in the media earned him widespread recognition and numerous
international awards;
Whereas Mr. Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal
Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide;
Whereas, notwithstanding hundreds of threats to Mr. Dink's life and
safety, he remained a steadfast proponent of pluralism and tolerance;
Whereas Mr. Dink was assassinated outside the offices of Agos in
Istanbul, Turkey, on January 19, 2007;
Whereas tens of thousands of people in Turkey of many ethnicities
protested Mr. Dink's killing and took to the streets throughout the
country to honor his memory;
Whereas the Government of Turkey has pledged to undertake a full
investigation into the murder of Mr. Dink;
Whereas the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has stated
that when Mr. Dink was shot, "a bullet was fired at freedom of thought
and democratic life in Turkey";
Whereas the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, stated that
Mr. Dink "lived his life in the belief that there can be understanding,
dialogue and peace amongst peoples"; and
Whereas Mr. Dink's tragic death affirmed the importance of promoting the
values that he championed in life: Now, therefore, be it
1 Resolved, That the Senate -
(1) condemns the murder of Hrant Dink as a shameful act of cowardice
perpetrated with contempt for law, justice, and decency;
(2) supports the pledge of the Government of Turkey to conduct an
exhaustive investigation into the assassination of Mr. Dink and to
prosecute those responsible;
(3) urges the Government of Turkey to repeal Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code and work diligently to foster a more open intellectual
environment in the country that is conducive to the free exchange of
ideas;
(4) recognizes the decision of the Government of Turkey to invite senior
Armenian religious and political figures to participate in memorial
services for Mr. Dink;
(5) calls on the Government of Turkey to act in the interest of regional
security and prosperity and reestablish full diplomatic, political, and
economic relations with the Government of Armenia; and
(6) urges the people of Turkey to honor Mr. Dink's legacy of tolerance.