The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia strictly condemns the treacherous assassination of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of the weekly “Agos” and assessed the crime as a crime against freedom of speech, human rights and the representative of the Armenian minority.

Expressing its indignation, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia states that the premeditated inhumane crime left very deep roots caused by the nationalistic circles of Turkey as a result of disseminating anti-Armenian propaganda. Negation of its own history at the level of Turkish authorities, wide dissemination propaganda of the denial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, as well as the unleashing of criminal persecutions towards numerous intellectuals, who raised that issue, caused a desire in the minds of nationalistic circles to silence the voice of freedom with such crime.

At the same time we express our concern on the latest developments regarding this heinous crime. After Dink’s assassination the public outbreak today is already being replaced by the reverse tendency – the Turkish nationalism, hatred against other nations, making a hero the criminal is being revived again, and as a result, the threats addressed to the newspaper edited by Hrant Dink, free-thinking people and the Armenians gather momentum.

The disclosures of this crime are of concern and need to be thoroughly examined, and according to them, the law enforcement bodies knew beforehand and did not try to prevent the assassination. Today, the necessity of the disclosure of the whole crime, including those who ordered it, is vital.

The National Assembly states: this assassination once again reiterated the reality that for the establishment of the atmosphere of two peoples’ mutual trust, the reconciliation with its own history and recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide by Turkish authorities, as well as the implementation of the demand of the international community of abolishing the Article 301 of the Criminal Code that enables to violate the free speech and similar developments, is a matter of present interest.

RA NA Factions and Groups

Republican Party of Armenia Faction

Justice Faction

ARF Faction

Country of Law Faction

National Unity Faction

United Labour Party Faction

People’s Deputy Group

Entrepreneur Group

Yerevan, 8.02.2007