Senator Biden: Article 301 contributed to the toxic political environment that led up to Dink's murder

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden welcomed the initiative of 53 Nobel Laureates who called on Armenia and Turkey to cooperation and tolerance. In his statement Senator Biden also supports their call on Ankara to end all forms of discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities and repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, the Armenian Assembly of America reports. Shortly after the murder of "Agos" bilingual editor-in-chief Hrant Dink, Biden introduced legislation, condemning the assassination of the Turkish-Armenian journalist. The resolution urges Turkey to take appropriate actions to protect freedom of speech by repealing Article 301. It also calls on Turkey to establish full diplomatic, political and economic relations with Armenia. "There is no question that Article 301 contributed to the toxic political environment that led up to Mr. Dink's assassination in January," Joseph Biden stated.



Turning to the issue of the Armenian Genocide, Biden reminded that an independent legal study was corroborated by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, which determined the events of 1915 constituted genocide and conform to the statutes of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. "The existence of these independent evaluations of the Armenian Genocide and relevant international law should provide an opportunity for both countries to accept the verdict of history and move forward. I hope that the words of these Nobel Laureates will encourage the people of both nations to recognize and ultimately transcend the legacy of the Armenian Genocide. Once this occurs, I have every confidence that the people of Armenia and Turkey will be able to rebuild the ties between their countries and forge a new, enduring peace," senator Biden stated.