Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Jan 20 2007

Turkish premier says journalist’s killers will not achieve their aim

Kizicahamam/Istanbul/Bursa: 20 January: "This murder will not achieve
what it aimed, this game which is played on our country will
certainly be thwarted," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a
consultation meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) on
Saturday [20 January].

"Our nation will give the best answer to those bloody hands by
clinching firmly and by embracing [Armenian Turkish journalist] Hrant
Dink. No bloody provocation will be able to hinder our nation’s march
on the road to freedom and prosperity," he added.

Erdogan also said that the perpetrators of the murder would not go
unpunished and that every effort was being exerted to bring
responsible(s) before justice in the shortest possible time.

Erdogan also praised Turkey’s economic performance in his speech,
saying the steps the government has been taking have given their
fruits.

"Turkey’s economy is a rising star of the region and even of the
world," he said.

"Thanks to democracy, stability and an environment of security,
Turkey has re-entered a process of production and development," he
noted.

"This constitutes an invaluable achievement. There is no turning back
from this point."

Touching on the Cyprus problem, Erdogan rejected accusations that the
government has made concessions regarding the Cyprus issue.

A group of Turkish non-governmental organizations made a call on
Saturday for a "silent march" to be staged on the day of slain
journalist Hrant Dink’s funeral, which is scheduled for next Tuesday.

"Those who do not want us to live together, understand each other are
trying to maintain an environment of fear, violence and conflict,"
author Oya Baydar told journalists after a meeting held between the
NGO leaders.

"Let us not forget the hope Hrant had fostered for this soil," she
said.

Meanwhile, Guenter Verheugen, vice-president of European Union
Commission, strongly deplored [on] Saturday the killing of prominent
Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

"I condemn the incident in the strongest possible sense. I appreciate
the stance of the Turkish state on this issue" he said.

"I believe those who aim at harming Turkey will not achieve their
goals. I am confident that the Turkish officials will exert every
effort to bring the situation into the daylight," Verheugen added.