Anatolia News Agencym Turkey
March 29 2007
Turkish ministry urges US senators to consider facts before adopting
resolution
Ankara, 29 March: "I sincerely hope that the US Senate would not
adopt a bill disregarding the facts on the murder of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink," Turkish MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
Spokesman Levent Bilman said on Thursday [29 March].
Responding to a question on the matter, Bilman recalled that the
United States Senate committee on foreign relations passed [on]
Wednesday a draft that condemned the killing of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink (in Istanbul on 19 January 2007).
"Although the criminals were arrested almost immediately, such a
resolution was brought to the floor in the US Senate. It is clear
that efforts are under way to exploit this loathsome murder for
political reasons, making references to 1915 incidents. The
government and a large crowd of people attended the funeral of Dink
to condemn the murder," Bilman recalled.
Turkey is closely following the process regarding the resolution.
US Senate committee on foreign relations passed a draft that
condemned the killing of Hrant Dink. The draft also urged Turks to
amend Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code and establish diplomatic,
political and commercial relations with Armenia.
The draft, tabled by Senator Joseph Biden, member of the foreign
relations committee, was sent to Senate general assembly for
approval.