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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
January 26, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
Email: [email protected]
Representative Schiff, Lawmakers Send Letter to Turkey's Prime Minister
Erdogan Condemning Dink's Murder
Washington DC - The Armenian Assembly commends Representative Adam B.
Schiff (D-CA) for sending a letter to Turkey's Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan condemning the murder of Armenian journalist and citizen
of Turkey, Hrant Dink, who was gunned down on January 19 in Istanbul,
Turkey. The letter, signed by 41 lawmakers, calls for a proper
investigation of this crime and urges the elimination of causes leading
to violence in Turkey.
"The Assembly thanks Congressman Schiff for his letter to Erdogan
condemning this heinous crime," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
"Hrant Dink was a courageous champion of human rights and tolerance and
a strong advocate for democratic change. His death should serve as a
wake-up call for Turkey to take a closer look at the internal changes
within its society. The U.S. must also redouble its efforts and urge the
Turkish government to reform its laws."
The Armenian Assembly 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#2007-020
Editor's Note: Below is the full text of the letter sent to Prime
Minister Erdogan.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Republic of Turkey
Ankara, Turkey
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
We write to express our shock and condemnation of the murder of Hrant
Dink, the Armenian-Turkish editor of newspaper Agos, who was shot three
times outside its offices in Istanbul.
We urge you to personally oversee the investigation into Mr. Dink's
murder and to ensure that this crime is solved and that those
responsible are punished.
The silencing of such a prominent and outspoken voice is not only a
personal tragedy; it is also a tragedy for those who believe in a free
and unfettered press, and those who are committed to a thoughtful
examination of the past. Hrant Dink had the courage to confront the
facts of the Armenian Genocide, and that courage may have cost him his
life.
We hope that you will also use the occasion of Mr. Dink's murder to
repeal the odious law making it a crime to "insult Turkishness." As
you know, Mr. Dink was prosecuted under this law and was given a
six-month suspended sentence in October 2005 after writing about the
Armenian Genocide. Repealing this statute, which is repellant to those
of us who believe that a free and independent press is a cornerstone of
a democratic society, would be a fitting tribute to Mr. Dink and to the
other courageous Turkish writers and intellectuals who believe that
their country's future can only be secured by accepting its past.
Finally, we also ask that you pass on our deepest condolences to his
family and colleagues.
Sincerely,
Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-NY)
Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-CA)
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA)
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)
Rep. Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX)
Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL)
Rep. James R. Langevin (D-RI)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL)
Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI)
Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D-NY)
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA)
Rep. John W. Olver (D-MA)
Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ)
Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM)
Rep. George P. Radanovich (R-CA)
Rep. Steven R. Rothman (D-NJ)
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA)
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA)
Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-PA)
Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark (D-CA)
Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA)
Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D-NY)
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
January 26, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
Email: [email protected]
Representative Schiff, Lawmakers Send Letter to Turkey's Prime Minister
Erdogan Condemning Dink's Murder
Washington DC - The Armenian Assembly commends Representative Adam B.
Schiff (D-CA) for sending a letter to Turkey's Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan condemning the murder of Armenian journalist and citizen
of Turkey, Hrant Dink, who was gunned down on January 19 in Istanbul,
Turkey. The letter, signed by 41 lawmakers, calls for a proper
investigation of this crime and urges the elimination of causes leading
to violence in Turkey.
"The Assembly thanks Congressman Schiff for his letter to Erdogan
condemning this heinous crime," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
"Hrant Dink was a courageous champion of human rights and tolerance and
a strong advocate for democratic change. His death should serve as a
wake-up call for Turkey to take a closer look at the internal changes
within its society. The U.S. must also redouble its efforts and urge the
Turkish government to reform its laws."
The Armenian Assembly 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#2007-020
Editor's Note: Below is the full text of the letter sent to Prime
Minister Erdogan.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Republic of Turkey
Ankara, Turkey
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
We write to express our shock and condemnation of the murder of Hrant
Dink, the Armenian-Turkish editor of newspaper Agos, who was shot three
times outside its offices in Istanbul.
We urge you to personally oversee the investigation into Mr. Dink's
murder and to ensure that this crime is solved and that those
responsible are punished.
The silencing of such a prominent and outspoken voice is not only a
personal tragedy; it is also a tragedy for those who believe in a free
and unfettered press, and those who are committed to a thoughtful
examination of the past. Hrant Dink had the courage to confront the
facts of the Armenian Genocide, and that courage may have cost him his
life.
We hope that you will also use the occasion of Mr. Dink's murder to
repeal the odious law making it a crime to "insult Turkishness." As
you know, Mr. Dink was prosecuted under this law and was given a
six-month suspended sentence in October 2005 after writing about the
Armenian Genocide. Repealing this statute, which is repellant to those
of us who believe that a free and independent press is a cornerstone of
a democratic society, would be a fitting tribute to Mr. Dink and to the
other courageous Turkish writers and intellectuals who believe that
their country's future can only be secured by accepting its past.
Finally, we also ask that you pass on our deepest condolences to his
family and colleagues.
Sincerely,
Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-NY)
Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-CA)
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA)
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)
Rep. Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX)
Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL)
Rep. James R. Langevin (D-RI)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL)
Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI)
Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D-NY)
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA)
Rep. John W. Olver (D-MA)
Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ)
Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM)
Rep. George P. Radanovich (R-CA)
Rep. Steven R. Rothman (D-NJ)
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA)
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA)
Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-PA)
Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark (D-CA)
Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA)
Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D-NY)