LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles Council President Eric Garcetti made a statement honoring the memory of Hrant Dink to the Los Angeles City Council body earlier this morning, January 23, 2007. Council President Garcetti adjourned the City Council’s meeting by offering words of mourning and solidarity with Armenians around the world. “Hrant Dink was murdered in Turkey for speaking out on the issue of the Armenian Genocide. We take this opportunity to mourn the tragic murder of Hrant Dink as we adjourn this meeting today and remember the principles for which he stood,” stated Garcetti.

Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR), joined the Los Angeles City Council at its meeting in mourning the loss of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. “Hrant Dink was a courageous man who espoused many of the freedoms and rights we cherish so deeply here in the United States,” stated Kzirian as he addressed the Los Angeles City Council. “He paid the ultimate price for believing in principles of free speech and human rights, and the Armenian American community sincerely thanks the Los Angeles City Council for joining us in recognizing the grave importance of Hrant Dink’s tragic murder.”

The ANCA-WR led community-wide efforts earlier this week in condemning the murder of Hrant Dink. Dink, an outspoken champion of freedom of speech and acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide, was shot dead last Friday in front of the offices of AGOS, an Armenian/Turkish bilingual newspaper based in Istanbul, Turkey.

The ANCA-WR held a press conference on Saturday January 20, 2007 condemning Dink’s assassination. Multiple television and radio stations covered the press conference while general media updates on recent developments in Turkey and abroad honoring Dink’s death continued to make headlines.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.