SENATE PANEL DELAYS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION CONDEMNING HRANT DINK ASSASSINATION
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 7 2007
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today delayed the discussion
of a measure, authored by the panel’s chairman Joe Biden (D-DE),
condemning the brutal murder of journalist and human rights activist
Hrant Dink, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The Committee’s top Republican, Richard Lugar (R-IN), called for
the delay in the consideration of S.Res.65 amid heavy pressure from
the Administration to remove references to Dink’s prosecution "under
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for speaking about the Armenian
Genocide." The legislation also urges the Turkish government to repeal
this anti-free speech law. The resolution will now be scheduled for
discussion at the Committee’s next business meeting.
"We are troubled that Senator Lugar – apparently acting at the request
of the Administration – has delayed the U.S. Senate’s tribute to the
life and memory of Hrant Dink," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "We look forward to the panel, at the next opportunity,
rejecting any efforts to block or water down this measure, and passing
it in the form it was introduced."
Following the delay, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member Chris
Dodd (D-CT) stated, "It is unfortunate that the committee deferred
action on this important resolution. I look forward to voting in
support of the resolution, when the committee considers it at the
next business meeting."
Chairman Biden noted that, "Hrant Dink was a leading voice in Turkey’s
Armenian community and an eloquent advocate for human rights, press
freedom, and reconciliation. His assassination was an outrage and
a tragedy. Hrant’s legacy deserves our respect and his death, our
condemnation."
"Hrant Dink spoke out for tolerance in an era, when voices like his
need to be heard," stated Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. "His
assassination was a terrible crime, which warrants the strong
condemnation of the Congress and the entire international community."