Congressional Record: February 1, 2007 (Senate)
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 65–CONDEMNING THE MURDER OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN
JOURNALIST AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE HRANT DINK AND URGING THE PEOPLE
OF TURKEY TO HONOR HIS LEGACY OF TOLERANCE
Mr. BIDEN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 65
Whereas Hrant Dink was a respected, eloquent advocate for
press freedom, human rights, and reconciliation;
Whereas, in 1996, Mr. Dink founded the weekly bilingual
newspaper Agos and, as the paper’s editor in chief, used the
paper to provide a voice for Turkey’s Armenian community;
Whereas Mr. Dink was a strong proponent of rapprochement
between Turks and Armenians and worked diligently to improve
relations between those communities;
Whereas Mr. Dink’s commitment to democratic values,
nonviolence, and freedom in the media earned him widespread
recognition and numerous international awards;
Whereas Mr. Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide;
Whereas, notwithstanding hundreds of threats to Mr. Dink’s
life and safety, he remained a steadfast proponent of
pluralism and tolerance;
Whereas Mr. Dink was assassinated outside the offices of
Agos in Istanbul, Turkey, on January 19, 2007;
Whereas tens of thousands of people in Turkey of many
ethnicities protested Mr.Dink’s killing and took to the streets
throughout the country
to honor his memory;
Whereas the Government of Turkey has pledged to undertake a
full investigation into the murder of Mr. Dink;
Whereas the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
has stated that when Mr. Dink was shot, “a bullet was fired
at freedom of thought and democratic life in Turkey”;
Whereas the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian,
stated that Mr. Dink “lived his life in the belief that
there can be understanding, dialogue and peace amongst
peoples”; and
Whereas Mr. Dink’s tragic death affirmed the importance of
promoting the values that he championed in life: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate–
(1) condemns the murder of Hrant Dink as a shameful act of
cowardice perpetrated with contempt for law, justice, and
decency;
(2) supports the pledge of the Government of Turkey to
conduct an exhaustive investigation into the assassination of
Mr. Dink and to prosecute those responsible;
(3) urges the Government of Turkey to repeal Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code and work diligently to foster a more
open intellectual environment in the country that is
conducive to the free exchange of ideas;
(4) recognizes the decision of the Government of Turkey to
invite senior Armenian religious and political figures to
participate in memorial services for Mr. Dink;
(5) calls on the Government of Turkey to act in the
interest of regional security and prosperity and reestablish
full diplomatic, political, and economic relations with the
Government of Armenia; and
(6) urges the people of Turkey to honor Mr. Dink’s legacy
of tolerance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress