Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
E-mail:[email protected]
ww w.anccanada.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2007
Contact: Kevork Manguelian
Tel. (613) 235-2622
The Canadian Government, the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group
and the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada Condemn the Murder
of Journalist Hrant Dink
Ottawa- The Canadian Government and the Chair of Canada-Armenia
Parliamentary Friendship Group have condemned the murder of the
Armenian-Turkish Journalist Hrant Dink in Turkey last week.
The Hon. Jason Kenney, Secretary of State, Multiculturalism and Canadian
Identity, in a statement issued today extended his "heartfelt sympathy" to
the Dink family and to "believers in freedom and democracy."
The Secretary of State called Dink’s assassination a "barbaric hate crime,"
and said he hoped justice would be eventually served. Mr. Kenney described
Dink as a courageous and principled journalist particularly "in his writings
regarding the Armenian Genocide."
On behalf of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group (CAPFG), Gary
Goodyear (MP-Cambridge) issued a statement expressing his "shock and deep
sadness for the tragic murder of Turkish journalist Hrant Dink." He
described Dink’s murder as "an act which assaults the basic principles of
free expression and democracy."
According to the CAPFG president, Dink was silenced because "his offence was
to seek dialogue and reconciliation between Turks and Armenians by
recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915."
To mourn the assassination of Dink, the National Ethnic Press and Media
Council of Canada (NEPMCC) also issued a statement condemning the murder and
expressed "the horror of its members for the barbaric murder of journalist
Hrant Dink." The president of the council, Thomas Saras called on the
"United Nations to investigate the circumstances of Dink’s murder," and
asked "the European Union and all the nations of the world to disassociate
themselves from the fascist establishment in Ankara."
Jean Meguerditchian, President of the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC), expressed "The Canadian-Armenian community’s appreciation to the
Hon. Jason Kenney, Mr. Gary Goodyear and Mr. Saras for their solidarity and
compassion during these difficult and somber times for the Dink family, the
Armenian people and Dink’s righteous Turkish colleagues."
Aris Babikian, Executive Director of the ANCC called "on the Turkish
Government to uphold Mr. Dink legacy and to reconcile with the Armenian
people by recognizing the Armenian Genocide and eliminate Article 301 from
its penal code, and reform its school system to teach Turkish pupils the
historical fact of the Armenian Genocide"
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Texts of the Statements
CANADA
Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2007
Statement by the Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP.
I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the Dink family and
believers in freedom and democracy as we grieve the loss of Armenian
journalist, Hrant Dink.
I condemn this barbaric hate crime and hope justice will be served for those
who are responsible for Mr. Dink’s assassination.
Mr. Dink was a well known voice around the world on Armenian affairs as a
courageous and principled journalist, particularly in his writings regarding
the Armenian genocide. Mr. Dink’s work to promote tolerance has benefited
countless lives. I fully support the Armenian people as they continue the
work Hrant accomplished throughout his life.
Freedom of speech and respect for diversity must be adhered to so that we
can all live in peace and harmony.
May God bless his Soul
"Asdvadz Hokin Loosavore"
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Office of Jason Kenney, PC, MP
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
————————————- ———————————–
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2007
Statement by Gary Goodyear, Chair
Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group
On behalf of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, I would like
to express my shock and deep sadness for the tragic murder of Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink.
This murder is an act which assaults the basic principles of free expression
and democracy.
Mr. Dink was a prominent voice for the Armenian population in Turkey. He
was editor of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper and his offence
was to seek dialogue and reconciliation between Turks and Armenians by
recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
Mr. Dink spent his life trying to rid his country and his two peoples of the
denial dividing them. It is our hope that justice will be served and that
we can draw a lesson from this unimaginable event in order to heal pains of
past actions and pave the way for a peaceful future through truth and
reconciliation.
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NATIONAL ETHNIC PRESS AND MEDIA COUNCIL OF CANADA
Conseil national de la presse et des medias ethniques du Canada
Canada’s Other Voices
Office of the President
The killing of Hrant Dink another act of barbarism in Turkey
The murder of the journalist underscores that the country has
no common values with the European societies.
Toronto–The National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC)
expresses the horror of its members for the barbaric murder of journalist
Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of Agos, the Istanbul-based Turkish-Armenian
weekly. The council cites the murder is an example of Turkey’s barbaric
mentality and culture, and its resistance to the principles of free
expression and the rights of the minorities living under Turkish
administration.
The NPEMCC condemns, in the strongest terms, the assassination of one of
Turkey’s few free voices and asks the United Nations to investigate the
circumstances of Dink’s murder. It also urges the European Union and all the
nations of the world to disassociate themselves from the fascist
establishment in Ankara. It further recommends that EU terminate
negotiations with Turkey aimed at the membership of Turkey into the European
family of states until the rights of all citizens of Turkey are respected
and the voice of political dissidents is respected.
Thomas S. Saras
President, NEPMCC
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The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of
the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.
Regional Chapters
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St.
Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
