YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Committee of South America awarded the famous Argentine journalist Reynaldo Sietekas with Hrant Dink certificate of honor. When receiving the award, Sietekas admitted that it was a great honor for him to receive the certificate of honor bearing the name of Hrant Dink. He noted that he had studied Hrant Dink's story and journalistic activities and believed that the award was a signal that he should continue to work honorably.

Prensa armena.com reports that Sietekas said that he had his own view of Armenia and the Armenian issue and as a person, who defends human rights and spreads humanitarian ideas, could not, both as a person and as a journalist, be indifferent toward the Armenian Genocide.

"When I was collecting documents and materials on the Armenian Genocide, I could see the pain in the eyes of the people who were in any way related to these terrible events. But the feeling of pain has a meaning and significance. Such a pain is the symbol of the existence of consciousness"- as reports "Armenpress”, said Sietekase receiving the award, adding that Hrant Dink was a great humanist and he was killed because he was critical to the intolerance against national minorities which was a part of the state policy of Turkey. The awarding ceremony was attended by the representatives of the political, social and media elite of Argentina.

The Argentine Armenians have been granting such awards since 2001. After the tragic murder of Istanbul-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in 2007, the certificate of honor bore his name. During all this time, such certificates have been granted to as many as 22 Argentine journalists.