EP REPORT SAYS DINK’S APPROACH MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ARMENIAN DIASPORA

Yerevan, February 9. ArmInfo. The European Parliament reiterated its
determination to keep up the pressure on Turkey regarding freedom
of expression and the Armenian question in a report on slain Turkish
journalist of Armenian origin Hrant Dink.

The five-page document, prepared by Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman
of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, and obtained by
Today’s Zaman, reports on the funeral and debates in the wake of the
Jan. 19 assassination that led to one of the largest demonstrations
in Istanbul’s history. The report was presented to President of the
Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering at the beginning of February.

Lagendijk, who attended the funeral and represented the EP, argues
that though the killer was caught shortly after the crime, many
questions surrounding the murder remain unanswered.

The report praises Dink’s attitude toward the events of 1915 and
underlines the fact that he tried to avoid the word "genocide." The
report also says that his approach was more effective than the Armenian
diaspora’s way of dealing with history. "Hrant firmly believed that the
past can only be addressed and understood where there are prospects
of future relations. Armenia’s painful history exercised his mind no
less than the Armenian diaspora. But he took a different, and perhaps
more effective, approach to the debate on the Armenian genocide
of 1915 than is customary in Turkey. In his speeches and writings,
he tried to avoid the term ‘genocide.’ He informed his readers and
listeners, describing the events of 1915, but left the definition to
them and invited them to find the appropriate term." The funeral was
a historic event for Istanbul, the report argues, and adds that the
sheer dimension of the masses who gathered to pay their respects and
protest the murder was utterly unexpected.

"The funeral of Hrant Dink turned into one of the largest-ever mass
demonstrations in the city of Istanbul. Although it was expected
that thousands would come to pay their last respects to Hrant Dink,
not even the greatest of optimists could have foreseen the vast sea
of more than a hundred thousand people," stated the report. Dink was
a very well-known figure in the EP, in particular among the Green
group. He had attended several conferences organized by the EP. The
report strongly calls for continued support to the Turkish-Armenian
newspaper Agos, the paper Dink worked at as editor-in-chief, and
believes its closing down would be a great loss for Turkey. The
report concludes by highlighting the fact that Dink’s murder has put
two important issues in the spotlight: freedom of expression and the
Armenian question. The report wants to "ensure that these two issues
are high on our agenda in the coming months and years."

The European Parliament officially recognized the Armenian genocide in
1987 and claims Turkey should recognize it for possible EU membership.