Tweet
GUL: PRESIDENTIAL BODY MIGHT PROBE DINK MURDER
Today's Zaman
Jan 27 2011
Turkey
The State Audit Institution (DDK), a body under the President's
Office, might lead a separate investigation into the 2007 murder
of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, President Abdullah Gul
has said.
Speaking to members of press organizations accompanying him during a
visit to Strasbourg in the lobby of the hotel where he was staying on
Tuesday night, Gul said that the DDK could look into the Dink murder
in response to a question on that possibility.
"There is a murder trial going on, and that trial has come a long way
so we never thought of that. But there is no such rule that says it
can't happen," he said.
When reminded that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) had
found Turkey guilty of failing to protect Dink's right to life and
of failing to carry out a thorough investigation into officers who
failed to take the necessary measures in light of early warnings and
tips about the plot to kill Dink, Gul reiterated that it was possible
to order the DDK to investigate the allegations. He said the DDK did
not serve as a body that interrogated suspects, but rather a body
that made comprehensive investigations to share its finding with the
relevant government agencies. "I don't know if it is something they
could do. I wouldn't hesitate for a second [to order an investigation
into the Dink murder]," he said.
Gul said the murder had occurred despite a number of opportunities that
came up during the assassination plan's inception, opportunities that
would have normally allowed the authorities to prevent it. He also
added that it was important that at least the trial process could be
completed in a manner that would leave no doubts in people's minds.
"Also, the only way to make sure that such things do not happen again
is to completely illuminate such murders," Gul said.
When reminded of an alleged attempt by the Council of State to prevent
a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent from serving as a bureaucrat
at the EU Secretariat-General, Gul said: "Can such a shameful thing be?
This is tantamount to rejecting our very own selves. But let me tell
you something: In the future, there will be developments that will
leave such things behind and that will ensure that all citizens -
Muslims and non-Muslims alike -- will have the opportunity to serve
in higher positions. This is all I am going to say. You will remember
this when you hear about these developments."
The Council of State has issued a stay on any appointments based on
Turkey's EU Secretariat-General's new expert admission examination
held two years ago following an objection filed against the exam
results. The real reason behind the stay ruling is allegedly to
prevent the Turkish-Armenian candidate who was successful in the
exam from being appointed. If this person is admitted to the EU
Secretariat-General, he will be the first Turkish bureaucrat of
Armenian descent to work at a public agency.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
Jan 27 2011
Turkey
The State Audit Institution (DDK), a body under the President's
Office, might lead a separate investigation into the 2007 murder
of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, President Abdullah Gul
has said.
Speaking to members of press organizations accompanying him during a
visit to Strasbourg in the lobby of the hotel where he was staying on
Tuesday night, Gul said that the DDK could look into the Dink murder
in response to a question on that possibility.
"There is a murder trial going on, and that trial has come a long way
so we never thought of that. But there is no such rule that says it
can't happen," he said.
When reminded that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) had
found Turkey guilty of failing to protect Dink's right to life and
of failing to carry out a thorough investigation into officers who
failed to take the necessary measures in light of early warnings and
tips about the plot to kill Dink, Gul reiterated that it was possible
to order the DDK to investigate the allegations. He said the DDK did
not serve as a body that interrogated suspects, but rather a body
that made comprehensive investigations to share its finding with the
relevant government agencies. "I don't know if it is something they
could do. I wouldn't hesitate for a second [to order an investigation
into the Dink murder]," he said.
Gul said the murder had occurred despite a number of opportunities that
came up during the assassination plan's inception, opportunities that
would have normally allowed the authorities to prevent it. He also
added that it was important that at least the trial process could be
completed in a manner that would leave no doubts in people's minds.
"Also, the only way to make sure that such things do not happen again
is to completely illuminate such murders," Gul said.
When reminded of an alleged attempt by the Council of State to prevent
a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent from serving as a bureaucrat
at the EU Secretariat-General, Gul said: "Can such a shameful thing be?
This is tantamount to rejecting our very own selves. But let me tell
you something: In the future, there will be developments that will
leave such things behind and that will ensure that all citizens -
Muslims and non-Muslims alike -- will have the opportunity to serve
in higher positions. This is all I am going to say. You will remember
this when you hear about these developments."
The Council of State has issued a stay on any appointments based on
Turkey's EU Secretariat-General's new expert admission examination
held two years ago following an objection filed against the exam
results. The real reason behind the stay ruling is allegedly to
prevent the Turkish-Armenian candidate who was successful in the
exam from being appointed. If this person is admitted to the EU
Secretariat-General, he will be the first Turkish bureaucrat of
Armenian descent to work at a public agency.
From: A. Papazian