EU-Turkey Commission: Anyone, who is involved in Hrant Dink's murder, must be punishedJuly 9, 2007 - 17:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The trial over murderers of journalist Hrant Dink should disclose all facts connected this case. "We stress the importance and necessity for a complete explanation of the circumstances surrounding Hrant Dink's murder. The facts of this case, including possible involvement of officials, have to be brought into the light of day. The Turkish State will be closely watched by both the people of Turkey who want a just and open democracy with no dark corners, and their friends outside Turkey who support the reform process towards gaining full membership of the European Union. Consequently, it is highly important that everybody who was involved in the murder of Hrant Dink is punished," head of the EU-Turkey Commission Joost Lagendijk and member of the same commission Cem Özdemir stated. Their statement underlines the necessity to remove Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which repeatedly prosecuted Hrant Dink and other intellectuals, ABHaber reported. Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code supposes criminal punishment for those who have 'insulted Turkishness', to which particularly refers any mentioning of the Armenian Genocide. Hrant Dink, writers Elif Şafak and Taner Akçam, as well as Nobel Prize laureate Orhan Pamuk were prosecuted under this article. Editor-in-Chief of Armenian-Turkish 'Agos' bilingual Hrant Dink was gunned down on January 19, 2007 by 17-year-old Ogun Samast. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Politico: Belarus delivered advanced weapons to Azerbaijan in 2018-2022 Belarus delivered advanced weapons to Armenia’s enemy even though both countries were supposedly allies in a defense pact. Armenia Security Council chief to attend Ukraine peace summit Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will take part in the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. Armenian govt. approves ratification of EAEU-Iran free trade deal At a meeting on Friday, June 14, the Armenian government approved the ratification of an EAEU free trade agreement with Iran. Deputy U.S. Secretary of State to arrive in Yerevan Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will travel to Yerevan, Armenia from June 17-19 to. |