Armenian media silent as Dink murder trial approaches in Turkey

BBC Monitoring research
30 Jun 07

The trial of 18 people charged with involvement in the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink opens in Istanbul on Monday 2
July. Dink’s murder in January this year caused a strong reaction in
neighbouring Armenia. Dink was an editor with the Armenian-language
newspaper Agos published in Istanbul. Turkish nationalist circles are
reported to have masterminded the murder. Dink campaigned for the
recognition of the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
during World War I as genocide.

"Shock" in Yerevan

The Armenian public, including politicians and intellectuals, widely
condemned Dink’s murder. Mass protests were staged in the Armenian
capital Yerevan, while President Robert Kocharyan offered his
condolences to Dink’s family and friends. "We hope that the Turkish
authorities will do their best to find and punish the culprits with the
utmost rigour of the law," Kocharyan’s press secretary told Arminfo
news agency.

In turn, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said that he was "shocked" by
the murder. Hrant Dink believed in dialogue and mutual understanding
between peoples, he said. "Irrespective of the circumstances of the
murder, we strongly condemn the incident in Istanbul and hope that the
Turkish authorities will do their best to solve the crime and find its
masterminds and executors," Oskanyan said.

Mourning ceremonies were held in Yerevan to commemorate Dink. One of
these ceremonies was attended by 6,000 people who held Dink’s photos
and placards saying "Turkey, is it your path to Europe?".

Media reaction

Prior to Dink’s murder, the Armenian media had widely covered his
trials for degrading Turkishness. A few hours after his murder,
Armenian Public TV began broadcasting footage from foreign TV stations
showing Dink lying at the scene of the crime. In the following days,
the Armenian print media and TV stations covered the murder
extensively. Papers published factual reports, interviews,
international reactions, analyses as to who could be behind the
killing, as well as statements by politicians, public figures and
organizations.

The usual comments were that while the Turkish government cannot be
blamed directly for the killing, it was responsible for the general
atmosphere in the country that resulted in the ultra-nationalists
committing the murder. "Journalist Hrant Dink’s murder raises questions
about Turkey’s ability to carry out reforms, become more civilized, and
integrate into Europe," Aravot newspaper wrote in comments after the
killing.

"A nationalistic and intolerant atmosphere has been established in the
neighbouring country, and the Armenian journalist fell victim to that
atmosphere. It is precisely the Turkish authorities that are primarily
responsible for that atmosphere," Aravot said.

"There is no doubt that the killer was led not just by Turkey, but by
the Turkish authorities, which endlessly persecuted, insulted and
threatened Dink… The Turkish authorities could not but know how the
endless persecution of Hrant Dink would end," another newspaper Azg
wrote.

At least three Armenian TV channels – Public TV, Yerkir Media and
Kentron TV – covered live Dink’s funeral in Istanbul.

However, the forthcoming trial of those charged with Hrant Dink’s
murder is not extensively covered by the Armenia media. The most likely
reason is that the Armenian media have no correspondents in Istanbul
and seem to be unaware of the trial. However, once the trial is covered
by the international media, Armenian newspapers and TV channels are
likely to catch up.