Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands
24 April Committee
For Recognition and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Website:
Email: info@faon.nl
Contact: M. Hakhverdian

PRESS RELEASE

Hrant Dink Commemorated in the Netherlands

19 January 2008 Assen, The Netherlands – Armenians gathered at the Armenian
Genocide Memorial commemorated the first anniversary of the assassination of
Hrant Dink. The commemoration was organised by the 24 April Committee of the
Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON).

Representatives of the FAON and other organisations throughout the country
laid flowers and wreaths at the Armenian Genocide Memorial, the Khachkar, in
the cemetery ?De Boskamp¹ in Assen in the Netherlands.

Member of Dutch Parliament Mrs. E. Wiegman, (ChristionUnion Faction, a party
in the present coalition government) delivered a speech about Dink¹s efforts
for democracy in Turkey. She compared Dink with theologist and Nazi fighter
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in whose opinion the solidarity is a person¹s
responsibility and includes more than just himself, whereby freedom is not
to be found in elevated thoughts, but in actions. Talking about Turkish
taboos, she said the Netherlands and Europe must hold on to the principle
that a country that refuses to face its past, cannot become a member of the
European Union.

A resolution was adopted at this commemorative meeting, which is addressed
to Dutch government, parliament and which will be sent also to the Turkish
embassy. In this resolution it is noted that Dink¹s ideas still are very
much alive and have many sympathisers. These sympathisers need support. In
order to provide that support, articles in Turkish law like Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code cannot be maintained. These articles of the law being
in contradiction with the conditions for EU membership negotiations, as well
as Turkey¹s obligations as a Council of Europe member, should no longer be
without consequences. The resolution also calls upon the Turkish government
to follow Dink¹s ideas on the reconciliation among different ethnic groups
of the population of Turkey and to face its own history, as the only way out
to solve the differences in a peaceful way.

With reference to Dink¹s words in one of his last columns, saying that he
feels like a pigeon, a bit afraid but free, the ceremony included launching
of white pigeons.