DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 2 2007

RESOLUTION CONDEMNING HRANT DINK’S ASSASSINATION INTRODUCED TO U. S.
SENATE

On February 1 the U. S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) introduced legislation condemning the
assassination of Hrant Dink and honoring his legacy of tolerance and
peaceful change.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the Armenian Assembly of
America (AAA), Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny stated, "We
commend Senator Biden for spearheading this important legislation.
The atmosphere that led to this killing must be changed, starting
with the repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. As a moral
leader, America must ensure that minority populations in Turkey are
afforded every protection."
Dink, who worked hard to foster dialogue and understanding between
Armenians and Turks, was gunned down outside his newspaper office on
January 19 in Istanbul, Turkey. An outspoken advocate for democratic
reform, Dink stood trial several times for his public comments on the
genocide and was convicted in October 2005 for "insulting
Turkishness" under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. He received
a six-month suspended sentence and was set to appear in court again
in March 2007 for affirming the Armenian Genocide. "Hrant Dink was a
leading voice in Turkey’s Armenian community and an eloquent advocate
for human rights, press freedom, and democracy," Senator Biden told
the Assembly. "His assassination was an outrage and a tragedy.
Hrant’s legacy deserves the Senate’s respect. His murder demands our
action."
The Senate bill is similar to H. Res. 102, which was introduced by
Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) on January 29 with the support of
the Armenian Assembly. The Biden resolution condemns Dink’s
assassination and supports Turkey’s pledge to conduct an exhaustive
investigation into his killing. Furthermore, the legislation urges
Turkey to take appropriate action to protect freedom of speech in
Turkey by repealing Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which
criminalizes public discussion on the Armenian Genocide. The
resolution also calls on Turkey to reestablish full diplomatic,
political and economic relations with Armenia.