Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
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PRESS RELEASE

January 19, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: mzachariades@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434

REMEMBERING HRANT DINK

Washington, DC – "On the 2nd Anniversary of Hrant Dink’s assassination,
as we pause to reflect on his life and untimely death, his legacy lives
on in Turkey," said Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. In December of last year intellectuals in Turkey
asked their fellow citizens to sign a petition apologizing to their
‘Armenian brothers and sisters’ for the ‘denial of the Great Catastrophe
that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in 1915.

"With this petition, its 27,775 signatures, and the millions around the
world that call for Turkey to lift its ban on truth, an irrevocable
trend continues towards global recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
This public apology is a first step in that direction and will
inevitably lead to Turkey coming to grips with its genocidal past,"
added Ardouny.

In the weeks following Dink’s assassination, then-Senator Joseph Biden,
Jr. (D-DE), introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate, which was passed
by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. S.Res. 65 condemned the
murder of Hrant Dink as "a shameful act of cowardice perpetrated with
contempt for law, justice and decency" and urged the Government of
Turkey to repeal Article 301 and "work diligently to foster a more open
intellectual environment in the country that is conducive to the free
exchange of ideas."

Biden commented, "Hrant Dink was a man of strong conviction who wanted,
above all, to foster greater understanding and respect between Turks and
Armenians. His assassination is one more tragic reminder of why Turkey
needs to reform its laws and allow for an open discussion of events
surrounding the Armenian Genocide. It should never be a crime to speak
the truth."

The Turkish Government’s response to the online petition has been
regrettable. Earlier this month, a Turkish prosecutor opened an
investigation that could lead to criminal charges against the authors of
the online apology petition. The state prosecutor is probing whether or
not this apology violated Article 301 of its penal code, which could
lead to charges under the law against insulting the "Turkish nation."

"Today, Armenians and other minorities are still at risk in Turkey and
Article 301 is the main factor in this injustice," concluded Ardouny. As
recent as January 8, 2009, Turkish Web site, Nethaber.com published an
article with a photo of members of the "Osman Gazi Cultural Association"
of the town of Eskishehir, Turkey, holding posters that read, "Dogs
Allowed. Jews and Armenians Not Allowed." The offensive signs were seen
at the anti-Israeli rally protesting the Jewish actions in Gaza.

In the two years since Dink was murdered by a Turkish ultranationalist,
Turkey has still failed to adopt standards and practices that would
reverse the prevalence of intolerance, repression and prejudice which
led to the assassination. Arat Dink, the son of Hrant Dink, was also
convicted under Article 301 for characterizing the 1915 killings of
Armenians as genocide.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

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NR#2009-005

Editor’s Note –

The Assembly remains committed to honoring Hrant Dink’s memory and
legacy. For more on Dink, please visit the Hrant Dink Fact Sheet on the
Assembly’s Website at
/Hrant_Dink_-_2008/FACT_S
HEET_-_Hrant_Dink_11.pdf