Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Jan 19 2007

Premier says journalist’s killing not to divert Turkey from
democratic reforms

Ankara, 19 January: "No bloody provocation will prevent Turkey from
advancing on its path towards freedom and prosperity," Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday [19 January].

Erdogan attended a ceremony to decorate Guenter Verheugen,
vice-president of the European Commission, with Association of
Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (Tusiad) Foreign Policy Award
in Ankara.

In regard to killing of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of bilingual
Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, Erdogan said that everyone was shocked
by the assassination.

"A bullet was fired to free thought and our democratic life with the
bloody attack against Dink. Two ministers and all security units are
continuing their investigation," Erdogan noted.

"I believe that our nation will give the best response to this
traitorous homicide in unity," he stressed.

He added that they would keep fulfilling democratic reforms.