TURKISH PREMIER CALLS MURDER OF HRANT DINK ATTACKS TURKEY’S STABILITY

Yerevan, January 19. ArmInfo-TURAN. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish
Premier, held a special briefing were he made an official statement
concerning the murder of Hrant Dink, Editor of "Agos" Armenian
newspaper in Turkey, committed in the center of Istanbul today, TURAN
reports.

R. T. Erdogan said that it was "not occasional" that the murder took
place especially now when acknowledgement of the "so-called" Armenian
Genocide is being discussed in different states of the world. He
evaluated the murder of the Editor as provocation aimed against Turkey
and its people including Armenian minority. Whatever the reasons of
the case, the government of Turkey condemns the murder and claims that
law enforcement bodies investigate the case and punish the criminal in
the shortest spell of time. The Premier condoles with relatives of
H. Dink. Members of the government will participate in the funeral
ceremony.

Note: Hrant Dink was shot by an unknown aged about 20 in the center of
Istanbul today. H. Dink called for acknowledgement of Armenian
Genocide of 1915 internationally. He was persecuted by Turkish
government, was arrested and released only under the order of the
Council of Europe.