HRANT DINK’S FUNERAL HAVE BECOME REASON FOR FIRST OFFICIAL CONTACT
OF RA DEPUTY FM WITH TURKEY’S FM

Yerevan, February 9. ArmInfo. Participation of the Armenian delegation,
headed by RA deputy FM, Arman Kirakosyan, in the funeral of Hrant Dink,
was marked by the first official contact of RA deputy FM with Turkey’s
FM, Abdullah Gul, Arman Kirakosyan said at today’s press-conference.

According to A. Kirakosyan, Abdullah Gul has welcomed him and,
on behalf of Turkey’s Government, condoled with the death of the
"representative of the Armenian community of Turkey". A. Gul also
offered to hold a meeting with his representative who arrived in
Istanbul the next day. During a 3-hour meeting with the representative
of Turkey’s FM, the Turkish side expressed a desire to normalize
the Armenian-Turkish relations. "This desire was unambiguously
expressed. Another question is under what conditions", A. Kirakosyan
said. According to him, the desire to normalize the Armenian- Turkish
relations was also expressed by the representatives of Turkish
business-circles but without precedent conditions.

Having touched upon the purpose of his visit to Turkey, that is the
funeral of Hrant Dink, the deputy FM noted that the participation
in the ceremony caused a deep emotion. About 500,000 people were
present at the procession that exceeds the number of the Armenian
community of Turkey. "That was a demonstration of solidarity. Not only
Armenians, but Turks, Greeks and Kurds took part in the procession",
A. Kirakosyan said.

To remind, the Editor-in-Chief of the "Agos" Istanbul newspaper,
Hrant Dink, was killed on January 19 by Turkish nationalists.