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Senator Boxer: Honoring Hrant Dink

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  • Senator Boxer: Honoring Hrant Dink

    PRESS RELEASE
    Senator Barbara Boxer
    Washington D.C.
    112 Hart Senate Office Building
    Washington, D.C. 20510
    (202) 224-3553


    Dear Friend:

    I wanted to let you know that I am cosponsoring Senate
    Resolution 65, condemning the murder of Armenian journalist and
    human rights advocate Hrant Dink. The text of the resolution
    can be found below.

    Hrant Dink offered a voice for freedom and truth about the
    Armenian Genocide and the history of Armenian-Turkish
    relations. His death will not silence his message.

    Sincerely,

    Barbara Boxer
    United States Senator


    S. RES. 65

    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.

    IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

    February 1, 2007

    Mr. BIDEN submitted the following resolution; which was
    referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

    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

    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.

    =================================== ============
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    For more information on Senator Boxer's record and other
    information, please go to: http://www.boxer.senate.gov

    To respond to this message, please click on the following link:
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