Hrant Dink posthumously honored with AAA Distinguished Humanitarian Award

PanARMENIAN.Net - More than 400 Armenian Assembly supporters from across the country gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 3rd to pay tribute to one of the most prominent Armenian voices in Turkey, the late Hrant Dink. Dink's widow Rakel was on hand to accept the Assembly's Distinguished Humanitarian Award posthumously bestowed upon Dink.



Mrs. Dink, who traveled from Turkey to accept the award, delivered a moving and thought-provoking speech, recalling that her husband fought tirelessly for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. He was searching for a way to help both Armenians and Turks heal and move forward while acknowledging the truths of history, Mrs. Dink said, speaking in Armenian.



She then noted that past events or traumas can only be overcome by understanding and forgiveness, and that her husband was always "telling people to empathize with others, to try to understand and share their pain. He did this with "enormous courage, perseverance, excitement and love," she said.



Mrs. Dink also discussed efforts in the U.S. to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide. She noted that the U.S. lawmakers who are considering the Armenian Genocide resolution all know the truth, but that they are simply putting politics before ethics.