DINK REQUESTED PENNINGTON TO HELP IMPROVE RELATIONS

A1+
[06:45 pm] 17 December, 2007

"I worked in Ankara and met with Azeri reporters before arriving in
Armenia," US Charge d’Affaires Joseph Pennington said during today’s
meeting with Armenian reporters.

Reporters wanted to know the U.S. attitude to Article 301 of Turkey’s
Penal Code which envisages punishment "for endorsement of the Armenian
genocide."

According to Pennington the U.S. Government has announced many times
that Article 301 hinders freedom of speech.

In reply to A1+’s question how the USA reacts to Turkey’s tough
stance towards Armenian-Turkish relations Joseph Penington said,
"The U.S. government calls on the two countries under question to
start a dialogue as it stems from the interests of both countries."

Today the U.S. Charge d’Affairs recalled his meeting with Hrant
Dink. During his tenure in Ankara he learnt that he would continue his
diplomatic mission in Armenia. He arranged a meeting with Dink over
the telephone. They met and discussed a number of things, including
Armenian-Turkish relations.

I visited Dink’s editorial office in front of which he was later
tragically assassinated. We walked to his favourite restaurant and
talked for about two hours.

Dink was a brilliant personality. During the meeting Hrant Dink kept
saying that he is proud of being Armenian but he also loved Turkey. He
gave Pennington useful information on a number of issues. Finally
Pennington asked Dink how the USA could help the two countries. Dink
asked Pennington "to help improve the relations."