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ANKARA: PM says journalist's killers will not achieve their aim

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  • ANKARA: PM says journalist's killers will not achieve their aim

    Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
    Jan 20 2007

    Turkish premier says journalist's killers will not achieve their aim


    Kizicahamam/Istanbul/Bursa: 20 January: "This murder will not achieve
    what it aimed, this game which is played on our country will
    certainly be thwarted," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a
    consultation meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) on
    Saturday [20 January].

    "Our nation will give the best answer to those bloody hands by
    clinching firmly and by embracing [Armenian Turkish journalist] Hrant
    Dink. No bloody provocation will be able to hinder our nation's march
    on the road to freedom and prosperity," he added.

    Erdogan also said that the perpetrators of the murder would not go
    unpunished and that every effort was being exerted to bring
    responsible(s) before justice in the shortest possible time.

    Erdogan also praised Turkey's economic performance in his speech,
    saying the steps the government has been taking have given their
    fruits.

    "Turkey's economy is a rising star of the region and even of the
    world," he said.

    "Thanks to democracy, stability and an environment of security,
    Turkey has re-entered a process of production and development," he
    noted.

    "This constitutes an invaluable achievement. There is no turning back
    from this point."

    Touching on the Cyprus problem, Erdogan rejected accusations that the
    government has made concessions regarding the Cyprus issue.

    A group of Turkish non-governmental organizations made a call on
    Saturday for a "silent march" to be staged on the day of slain
    journalist Hrant Dink's funeral, which is scheduled for next Tuesday.

    "Those who do not want us to live together, understand each other are
    trying to maintain an environment of fear, violence and conflict,"
    author Oya Baydar told journalists after a meeting held between the
    NGO leaders.

    "Let us not forget the hope Hrant had fostered for this soil," she
    said.

    Meanwhile, Guenter Verheugen, vice-president of European Union
    Commission, strongly deplored [on] Saturday the killing of prominent
    Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

    "I condemn the incident in the strongest possible sense. I appreciate
    the stance of the Turkish state on this issue" he said.

    "I believe those who aim at harming Turkey will not achieve their
    goals. I am confident that the Turkish officials will exert every
    effort to bring the situation into the daylight," Verheugen added.
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