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
March 2, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SENATE PANEL TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION
CONDEMNING MURDER OF HRANT DINK
— S.Res.65 Affirms that Slain Armenian Journalist was
Prosecuted for Speaking about the Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to
consider legislation, authored by the panel’s chairman Joe Biden
(D-DE), condemning the murder of Hrant Dink, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
The resolution, S.Res.65, specifically mentions that Hrant Dink
"was prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for
speaking about the Armenian Genocide," and urges the Turkish
government to repeal this anti-free speech law. It will be "marked
up" by the Committee on Tuesday, March 6th at 2:15 pm. The panel’s
website will note on March 6th if its proceeding that day will be
webcast live over the internet.
tml
ANCA activists in the 21 states with Senators on the Committee are
encouraging support for S.Res.65 through phone calls, faxes, and
meetings. They are also reminding the Senate offices that Hrant
Dink’s brutal murder is a wake up call for the U.S. Senate to pass
legislation formally recognizing and commemorating the Armenian
Genocide. Those interested in taking action on this issue may
visit: 76&type=CU
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.
Two similar measures have been introduced in the U.S. House by
Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY), one that mentions the Armenian
Genocide and one that does not. The ANCA supports the former, but
not the latter.
The text of the legislation is provided below, as is a full listing
of Senate Foreign Relations Committee members.
#####
SRES 65
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 65
Condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist and human
rights advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of Turkey to honor
his legacy of tolerance.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 1, 2007
Mr. BIDEN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations
RESOLUTION
Condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist and human
rights advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of Turkey to honor
his legacy of tolerance.
Whereas Hrant Dink was a respected, eloquent advocate for press
freedom, human rights, and reconciliation;
Whereas, in 1996, Mr. Dink founded the weekly bilingual newspaper
Agos and, as the paper’s editor in chief, used the paper to provide
a voice for Turkey’s Armenian community;
Whereas Mr. Dink was a strong proponent of rapprochement between
Turks and Armenians and worked diligently to improve relations
between those communities;
Whereas Mr. Dink’s commitment to democratic values, nonviolence,
and freedom in the media earned him widespread recognition and
numerous international awards;
Whereas Mr. Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code for speaking about the Armenian Genocide;
Whereas, notwithstanding hundreds of threats to Mr. Dink’s life and
safety, he remained a steadfast proponent of pluralism and
tolerance;
Whereas Mr. Dink was assassinated outside the offices of Agos in
Istanbul, Turkey, on January 19, 2007;
Whereas tens of thousands of people in Turkey of many ethnicities
protested Mr. Dink’s killing and took to the streets throughout the
country to honor his memory;
Whereas the Government of Turkey has pledged to undertake a full
investigation into the murder of Mr. Dink;
Whereas the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has
stated that when Mr. Dink was shot, `a bullet was fired at freedom
of thought and democratic life in Turkey’;
Whereas the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, stated
that Mr. Dink `lived his life in the belief that there can be
understanding, dialogue and peace amongst peoples’; and
Whereas Mr. Dink’s tragic death affirmed the importance of
promoting the values that he championed in life: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate–
(1) condemns the murder of Hrant Dink as a shameful act of
cowardice perpetrated with contempt for law, justice, and decency;
(2) supports the pledge of the Government of Turkey to conduct an
exhaustive investigation into the assassination of Mr. Dink and to
prosecute those responsible;
(3) urges the Government of Turkey to repeal Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code and work diligently to foster a more open
intellectual environment in the country that is conducive to the
free exchange of ideas;
(4) recognizes the decision of the Government of Turkey to invite
senior Armenian religious and political figures to participate in
memorial services for Mr. Dink;
(5) calls on the Government of Turkey to act in the interest of
regional security and prosperity and reestablish full diplomatic,
political, and economic relations with the Government of Armenia;
and
(6) urges the people of Turkey to honor Mr. Dink’s legacy of
tolerance.
Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:
Alaska
Lisa Murkowski (R)
(202) 224-6665
California
Barbara Boxer (D)
(202) 224-3553
Connecticut
Christopher Dodd (D)
(202) 224-2823
Delaware
Joe Biden, Chairman (D)
(202) 224-5042
Florida
Bill Nelson (D)
(202) 224-5274
Georgia
Johnny Isakson (R)
(202) 224-3643
Illinois
Barack Obama (D)
(202) 224-2854
Indiana
Dick Lugar (R), Ranking Member
(202) 224-4814
Louisiana
David Vitter (R)
(202) 224-4623
Maryland
Ben Cardin (D)
(202) 224-4524
Massachusetts
John Kerry (D)
(202) 224-2742
Minnesota
Norm Coleman (R)
(202) 224-5641
Nebraska
Chuck Hagel (R)
(202) 224-4224
New Hampshire
John Sununu (R)
(202) 224-2841
New Jersey
Bob Menendez (D)
(202) 224-4744
Ohio
George Voinovich (R)
(202) 224-3353
Pennsylvania
Bob Casey, Jr. (D)
(202) 224-6324
South Carolina
Jim DeMint (R)
(202) 224-6121
Tennessee
Bob Corker (R)
(202) 224-3344
Virginia
Jim Webb (D)
(202) 224-4024
Wisconsin
Russ Feingold (D)
(202) 224-5323
