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[Congressional Record: January 30, 2007 (House)]
[Page H995]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr30ja07-83]
HONORING ARMENIAN EDITOR HRANT DINK
(Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of the
Armenian Turkish newspaper editor, Hrant Dink. On January 19, the
legacy of the Armenian genocide continued. Hrant Dink, who was tried
and convicted of ``insulting Turkishness'' by recognizing the Armenian
genocide, unfortunately, was shot dead over a week ago.
Dink was a voice for freedom of the press, for democracy and for
Armenian genocide recognition. Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman
Empire led a genocide on its Armenian population, killing over 1.5
million people. Over 90 years later, the Turkish Government still
refuses to acknowledge it occurred.
I told the Turkish foreign minister last year that to move forward
with democratic reform, Turkey must first comes to grips with its past,
just as our country had during the civil rights movement. Yesterday, I
sent a letter to President Bush urging the withdrawal of the nomination
of Richard Hoagland to be Ambassador to Armenia. Given the
assassination of Dink, we cannot have an ambassador who refuses to
acknowledge the Armenian genocide happened. It would send the wrong
message.
[Page H995]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr30ja07-83]
HONORING ARMENIAN EDITOR HRANT DINK
(Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of the
Armenian Turkish newspaper editor, Hrant Dink. On January 19, the
legacy of the Armenian genocide continued. Hrant Dink, who was tried
and convicted of ``insulting Turkishness'' by recognizing the Armenian
genocide, unfortunately, was shot dead over a week ago.
Dink was a voice for freedom of the press, for democracy and for
Armenian genocide recognition. Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman
Empire led a genocide on its Armenian population, killing over 1.5
million people. Over 90 years later, the Turkish Government still
refuses to acknowledge it occurred.
I told the Turkish foreign minister last year that to move forward
with democratic reform, Turkey must first comes to grips with its past,
just as our country had during the civil rights movement. Yesterday, I
sent a letter to President Bush urging the withdrawal of the nomination
of Richard Hoagland to be Ambassador to Armenia. Given the
assassination of Dink, we cannot have an ambassador who refuses to
acknowledge the Armenian genocide happened. It would send the wrong
message.