DINK MUSTN’T BECOME A ‘MONUMENT’ IN ARMENIA: ISKANDARYAN

Tert.am
17:25 ~U 23.12.09

Because of a lack of a passport, Turkish citizen of Armenian descent,
journalist Hrant Dink was unable to travel outside Turkey’s borders,
said Caucasus Institute Director Alexander Iskandaryan, during the
launch of the Armenian translation of Dink’s book, roughly translated
to Two Close Peoples, Two Distant Neighbours.

Iskandaryan first met Dink 14 years ago in Istanbul; it was then that
he found out about the issue with his passport.

"I asked, has he perhaps been to Armenia?" explained the institute
director. Dink responded that he had been to Western Armenia (currently
within Turkey’s borders) and that that was his country.

"Armenia simply wasn’t a territory for him," said Iskandaryan, who
is concerned that after Dink’s death, the journalist could become a
"monument" in Armenia.

"Dink was never and never will be a monument. It’s necessary not just
to know him, but also to read his works," concluded Iskandaryan.