Anatolian Times, Turkey
Jan 20 2007

ATAA Condemns The Killing Of Turkish Armenian Journalist, Hrant Dink
Washington, DC – The Assembly of Turkish Americans strongly condemns
the killing earlier today of Turkish Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink,
in Istanbul. The ATAA urges the Turkish Republic to dedicate its best
assets to the capture, trial and punishment of the perpetrator(s) of
this heinous murder.
The killing of Mr. Dink is a great loss to Turkey. Mr. Dink was the
editor of Agos, an Armenian-language newspaper in Istanbul, and also
wrote for the Turkish daily, Zaman. He was a respected member and
voice of Istanbul’s prosperous and growing Armenian community. He
advocated reconciliation on the Ottoman Armenian Tragedy of WWI.
Unfortunately, he was also the subject of prosecution for his
characterization of WWI Armenian deaths as genocide.

ATAA reaffirms that people are entitled to their own opinions and the
expression of the same. Turks are struggling for the same rights in
Europe and America.

The Turkish Court of Appeals was right to vacate the conviction and
remand the case that charged Dink under Law 301 for `insulting the
Turkish identity.’ ATAA is confident in Turkish democracy’s ability
to address the difficulties of Law 301.

ATAA expresses that the killing of Dink ranks among the worst acts
against the best interest of Turkey and regional peace and stability.
ATAA urges all concerned parties that the Ottoman Armenian Tragedy is
an extremely sensitive matter, the treatment of which requires the
utmost care not to fuel the flames of extremism, particularly at a
time when security, peace and stability in the Middle East is
critical.

ATAA mourns the death of this fellow countryman, Mr. Hrant Dink, and
the loss of this very important part of our community. We convey our
deepest sympathies to his family and friends, and to the people of
Turkey.