Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
REP. CROWLEY SET TO INTRODUCE RESOLUTION
CONDEMNING HRANT DINK ASSASSINATION
— Legislation to call for Repeal of Article 301
— Over 125 Cosponsors have Already Agreed to Support the
Armenian Genocide Resolution soon to be Introduced by
Reps. Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone, and Knollenberg
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Crowley is set to introduce
legislation calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to condemn
the assassination of Hrant Dink, and to call upon the Turkish
government to repeal the law, Article 301, under which it both
prosecuted and sentenced the Armenian journalist for his statements
affirming the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
Hrant Dink, editor of the bilingual Armenian/Turkish "Agos"
newspaper, was gunned down outside his office in Istanbul on
January 19th – sparking worldwide protests and renewed scrutiny of
Turkey’s repression of free speech and international campaign of
Armenian Genocide denial.
"We appreciate Congressman Crowley’s leadership in seeking
Congressional condemnation of Hrant Dink’s murder and are, as a
community, tremendously gratified – in the wake of this tragedy –
by the growing support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution soon to
be introduced by Congressmen Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone, and
Knollenberg," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
Armenian National Committee. Speaking on CNN on the day of Dink’s
murder, Hamparian explained that his assassination was "product of
the environment that the Turkish government has created" – its
persistent denial that the killings of the Armenians last century
did not amount to genocide.
Among the original cosponsors of the measure are Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and
Armenian Genocide Resolution lead authors Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
George Radanovich (R-CA).
In a Dear Colleague letter circulated to Congressional offices, the
New York legislator described Hrant Dink as "a fierce defender of
the freedom of the press, an outspoken advocate for democratic
reform, and a champion of human rights and tolerance. He was a man
of conviction and principle who believed in democratic ideals and
peaceful change." He explained to his House colleagues that, Hrant
Dink had been "honored by his media colleagues around the world for
his courage and principles and was awarded the prestigious Bjornson
Prize for Literature for his publications on the Armenian
Genocide." Representative Crowley closed by stressing the need for
the U.S. Congress to condemn "this attempt to silence the freedom
of the press and to intimidate the Armenian community in Turkey,"
and calling on his colleagues to cosponsor his legislation.
Last Friday, on the day of the assassination, Congressman Schiff
circulated a Dear Colleague letter seeking the support of U.S.
Representatives for a letter condemning the Dink murder and calling
for the repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish penal code. Along
with Congressman Radanovich and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank
Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, Congressman Schiff will soon introduce
the Armenian Genocide Resolution. This measure, which has already
garnered the support of over 130 legislators, calls on the
President to properly recognize and commemorate the Armenian
Genocide.
The text of the legislation is provided below. A similar measure
is expected to be introduced in the U.S. Senate.
#####
Resolution
Condemning the assassination of human rights advocate and outspoken
defender of freedom of the press, Turkish- Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink on January 19, 2007.
Whereas, on January 19, 2007, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink was murdered as he exited the Istanbul, Turkey, office of Agos
Newspaper;
Whereas Hrant Dink was a fierce defender of the freedom of the
press and speech, an outspoken advocate for democratic reform, and
a champion of human rights and tolerance;
Whereas Hrant Dink was a man of conviction and principle who
believed in democratic ideals and peaceful change;
Whereas, in Istanbul in 1996, Hrant Dink founded a bilingual
newspaper called Agos, in part to foster dialogue and understanding
between Armenians and Turks;
Whereas Hrant Dink was honored by his media colleagues around the
world for his courage and principles and was awarded the
prestigious Bjornson Prize for Literature for his publications on
the Armenian Genocide;
Whereas Hrant Dink faced ongoing prosecution under Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide;
and
Whereas the United States was founded on the principles of
democracy and liberty where freedom of expression is cherished and
protected: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives
(1) strongly condemns and deplores the assassination of Hrant Dink;
(2) urges the Government of Turkey to continue its investigation
and prosecution of those individuals responsible for the murder of
Hrant Dink; and
(3) urges the Government of Turkey to take appropriate action to
protect the freedom of speech in Turkey by repealing Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code and by opposing individuals in Turkey who
espouse intolerance, intimidation, and violence against individuals
who exercise their right of freedom of speech.
–Boundary_(ID_QS/Sp+9OlenJaPtRpLICkQ)–