[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 986]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING HRANT DINK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 28, 2008

  Mr. CAPUANO. Madam Speaker, one year after the tragic killing of 
Hrant Dink, his loss remains acutely felt by many communities 
throughout the world. To observe this anniversary, I resubmit for the 
record my statement made at the time of his death, which calls for 
comity and peace in a time of such sadness.
  I supported H. Res. 102 and I condemn in the strongest possible terms 
the cowardly murder of journalist Hrant Dink in Istanbul on January 19, 
2007. I find particularly contemptible the actions of those who 
seemingly chose a 17-year-old youth--the alleged killer--to commit this 
appalling crime. This despicable act should not, however, obscure the 
inspiring solidarity of tens of thousands of secular, Muslim, and 
Armenian Christian Turks who filed past Mr. Dink's bier and marched in 
his funeral procession. Western news media have estimated the crowds 
between 50,000 and 100,000. Important Turkish officials, such as Deputy 
Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin; Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu; the 
governor of Istanbul, Muammer Guler; the head of the security forces, 
Celalettin Cerrah; and two generals joined Arman Kirakossian, the 
deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, and other Armenian officials at the 
funeral service.
  Everyone in the world who cherishes freedom and brotherhood must take 
heart when signs proclaiming ``We are all Armenians'' are carried 
through the streets of Istanbul. I wish to express my condolences to 
the family and friends of Hrant Dink. I want also to express my 
profound respect for all his fellow citizens who protested his murder 
and mourned his death.

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