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European Parliament hosts commemoration for assassinated Journalist
Hrant Dink
23:08, 23 Jan 2015 Siranush Ghazanchyan
Vice-President of the European Parliament Graf Lambsdorff honours
"courageous man" who "represents European values". Dink's widow
invites EP audience to commemorate the Armenian genocide in Istanbul
on April 24.
On January 21 the European Parliament hosted a commemoration to honour
Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist from Turkey, who was assassinated 8
years ago. Hrant Dink has become an icon of the movement for civil
liberties in Turkey on account of his contribution to the struggle for
freedom of expression and the defense of minorities.
The event was organized jointly by Frank Engel MEP (EPP group), the
Armenian organization AGBU Europe, the anti-racist network EGAM and
Turkish advocacy group DurDe! It followed the commemoration that
gathered tens of thousands of people in Istanbul , on 19 January.
Other ceremonies have also been organized in various European
countries.
At the event, Rakel Dink spoke emotionally of her husband and of their
common struggle for a fairer society. She referred to the centenary of
the Armenian genocide and quoted an article by the assassinated
journalist: "the time has come for April 24 to be commemorated on this
land, on which we shall collectively remember all of those people and
wish peace upon their souls. It will be a day when pain shared gives
rise to multitudes of joy; that day shall not only soothe the pain of
the Armenian people, but will also be the very spirit of the
democratization of Turkey." Rakel Dink ended with an open invitation
to join in the commemorations in Istanbul on April 24.
Frank Engel, MEP, recalled that the event honoured "a man who defended
peace between nations and freedom of speech. But he was also a model
of citizenship, of civic involvement." For EP Vice-President Alexander
Graf Lambsdorff, furthermore, "freedom of expression is the courage to
publish things that don't please the authorities. [...] He was
courageous [...] Hrant Dink represents many values that are cherished
by the European Union".
For Yervant Zorian, member of the Central Board of AGBU,"historically,
the Armenian people have endured oppression (...) It is a disseminated
population all around the world that lives together with other
nationalities. Armenians have learned to live in tolerance with other
cultures. In that sens, particularly, Hrant Dink is Armenian and
represents a symbol for this population." An idea to which Levent
Sensever, Leader in the anti-racist group DurDe! added that "Hrant
Dink was an example for the Turks and for the rest of the world to
follow."
Benjamin Abtan, President of EGAM, drew a parallel between the
terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo and the assassination of Dink: "What
happened was horrible. How not to be afraid when terrorists are
targetting you? That is a normal feeling. [...] But truth is more
important. Even though Hrant is not with us anymore, his message
remains: go on fighting for the truth, for the Armenian heritage
especially, and raise awareness of the value of the diversity of
identities."
AGBU Europe is the European district of the interntional Armenian
organization AGBU. Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the
world's largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New
York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and
heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs,
annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the
world.AGBU Europe is the European chapter of the organization. It runs
numerous programmes in fields relating to academic research, the
preservation and promotion of architectural heritage, education and
culture as well as awareness raising.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/23/european-parliament-hosts-commemoration-for-assassinated-journalist-hrant-dink/
Hrant Dink
23:08, 23 Jan 2015 Siranush Ghazanchyan
Vice-President of the European Parliament Graf Lambsdorff honours
"courageous man" who "represents European values". Dink's widow
invites EP audience to commemorate the Armenian genocide in Istanbul
on April 24.
On January 21 the European Parliament hosted a commemoration to honour
Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist from Turkey, who was assassinated 8
years ago. Hrant Dink has become an icon of the movement for civil
liberties in Turkey on account of his contribution to the struggle for
freedom of expression and the defense of minorities.
The event was organized jointly by Frank Engel MEP (EPP group), the
Armenian organization AGBU Europe, the anti-racist network EGAM and
Turkish advocacy group DurDe! It followed the commemoration that
gathered tens of thousands of people in Istanbul , on 19 January.
Other ceremonies have also been organized in various European
countries.
At the event, Rakel Dink spoke emotionally of her husband and of their
common struggle for a fairer society. She referred to the centenary of
the Armenian genocide and quoted an article by the assassinated
journalist: "the time has come for April 24 to be commemorated on this
land, on which we shall collectively remember all of those people and
wish peace upon their souls. It will be a day when pain shared gives
rise to multitudes of joy; that day shall not only soothe the pain of
the Armenian people, but will also be the very spirit of the
democratization of Turkey." Rakel Dink ended with an open invitation
to join in the commemorations in Istanbul on April 24.
Frank Engel, MEP, recalled that the event honoured "a man who defended
peace between nations and freedom of speech. But he was also a model
of citizenship, of civic involvement." For EP Vice-President Alexander
Graf Lambsdorff, furthermore, "freedom of expression is the courage to
publish things that don't please the authorities. [...] He was
courageous [...] Hrant Dink represents many values that are cherished
by the European Union".
For Yervant Zorian, member of the Central Board of AGBU,"historically,
the Armenian people have endured oppression (...) It is a disseminated
population all around the world that lives together with other
nationalities. Armenians have learned to live in tolerance with other
cultures. In that sens, particularly, Hrant Dink is Armenian and
represents a symbol for this population." An idea to which Levent
Sensever, Leader in the anti-racist group DurDe! added that "Hrant
Dink was an example for the Turks and for the rest of the world to
follow."
Benjamin Abtan, President of EGAM, drew a parallel between the
terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo and the assassination of Dink: "What
happened was horrible. How not to be afraid when terrorists are
targetting you? That is a normal feeling. [...] But truth is more
important. Even though Hrant is not with us anymore, his message
remains: go on fighting for the truth, for the Armenian heritage
especially, and raise awareness of the value of the diversity of
identities."
AGBU Europe is the European district of the interntional Armenian
organization AGBU. Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the
world's largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New
York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and
heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs,
annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the
world.AGBU Europe is the European chapter of the organization. It runs
numerous programmes in fields relating to academic research, the
preservation and promotion of architectural heritage, education and
culture as well as awareness raising.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/23/european-parliament-hosts-commemoration-for-assassinated-journalist-hrant-dink/