[Congressional Record: January 30, 2007 (Extensions)]
[Page E215]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr30ja07-28]

HRANT DINK’S DEATH A LOSS FOR MANY

______

HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

of massachusetts

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Mr. CAPUANO. Madam Speaker, I supported H. Res. 102 and I condemn in
the strongest possible terms the cowardly murder of journalist Hrant
Dink in Istanbul on January 19. I find particularly contemptible the
actions of those who seemingly chose a seventeen-year-old youth–the
alleged killer–to commit this appalling crime. This despicable act
should not, however, obscure the inspiring solidarity of tens of
thousands of secular, Muslim, and Armenian Christian Turks who filed
past Mr. Dink’s bier and marched in his funeral procession. Western
news media have estimated the crowds between 50,000 and. 100,000.
Important Turkish officials, such as Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali
Sahin; Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu; the governor of Istanbul,
Muammer Guler; the head of the security forces, Celalettin Cerrah; and
two generals joined Arman Kirakossian, the deputy Foreign Minister of
Armenia, and other Armenian officials at the funeral service.
Everyone in the world who cherishes freedom and brotherhood must take
heart when signs proclaiming “We are all Armenians” are carried
through the streets of Istanbul. I wish to express my condolences to
the family and friends of Hrant Dink. I want also to express my
profound respect for all his fellow citizens who protested his murder
and mourned his death.