CAUCASIAN MEDIA INSTITUTE: “DEATH OF HRANT DINK SHOWS THERE EXISTS LONG PATH UNTIL REACHING UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY”

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS:“We are all deeply shocked by the murder of Hrant Dink, the Editor-in-Chief of the Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper. Hrant Dink was honest and very brave. By the age of 53, he had penned and voiced many things – enough to earn the trust and respect of colleagues from all over the world, and the violent hatred of those who are enemies of freedom and honor – alas, first of all in his home country, Turkey, whose future had been his main concern. His death is a grave alert, showing that we have a long and difficult path to tread until we reach mutual understanding between Turkish and Armenian nations. With Hrant Dink, Turkey has lost one of its best citizens - in the superlative sense of the word. Armenians all over the world have lost one the most courageous partisans of justice and reconciliation,” says the statement of Caucasian Media Institute. “We are confident that one day the main goals that Hrant Dink pursued all his life will be achieved. Then we shall see the rise of European values in Turkish political life, an open discussion and recognition of the darkest pages of Turkish history, and a neighborly relationship between Turkish and Armenian nations and governments. But now that Hrant Dink is no more, it will be much more difficult to bring these visions to life. Hrant was aware that he might be murdered any moment; he was receiving an endless string of letters and phone calls with threats. He was ready to sacrifice his life for his ideal but in the eyes of those who survive him, his death is too dear a price for improving the social atmosphere in Turkey and the Turkish-Armenian relationship. The governments and civil society of our countries must do their best to ensure that good Armenian-Turkish relations are not bought with such terrible currency,” the statement concluded.