Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
anca@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, January 23, 2007
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ERIC GARCETTI ISSUES STATEMENT HONORING
MEMORY OF HRANT DINK
-ANCA-WR Executive Director Addresses Los Angeles City Council Regarding
Murder of Hrant Dink
LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles Council President Eric Garcetti made a
statement honoring the memory of Hrant Dink to the Los Angeles City Council
body earlier this morning, January 23, 2007. Council President Garcetti
adjourned the City Council’s meeting by offering words of mourning and
solidarity with Armenians around the world. "Hrant Dink was murdered in
Turkey for speaking out on the issue of the Armenian Genocide. We take this
opportunity to mourn the tragic murder of Hrant Dink as we adjourn this
meeting today and remember the principles for which he stood," stated
Garcetti.
Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of
America – Western Region (ANCA-WR), joined the Los Angeles City Council at
its meeting in mourning the loss of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
"Hrant Dink was a courageous man who espoused many of the freedoms and
rights we cherish so deeply here in the United States," stated Kzirian as he
addressed the Los Angeles City Council. "He paid the ultimate price for
believing in principles of free speech and human rights, and the Armenian
American community sincerely thanks the Los Angeles City Council for joining
us in recognizing the grave importance of Hrant Dink’s tragic murder."
The ANCA-WR led community-wide efforts earlier this week in condemning the
murder of Hrant Dink. Dink, an outspoken champion of freedom of speech and
acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide, was shot dead last Friday in front
of the offices of AGOS, an Armenian/Turkish bilingual newspaper based in
Istanbul, Turkey. The ANCA-WR held a press conference on Saturday January
20, 2007 condemning Dink’s assassination. Multiple television and radio
stations covered the press conference while general media updates on recent
developments in Turkey and abroad honoring Dink’s death continued to make
headlines.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress