[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 20 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1537-S1538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  Mr. BIDEN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 65

       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.

[[Page S1538]]

     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.

                          ____________________