January 22, 2007 - 14:27 AMT
Krasnodar Armenians Urge to Prevent Turkey from Perpetrating Another Genocide
Liturgies for the peace of Hrant Dink's soul were chanted in all dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) January 21, reports Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia. "Despite the forthcoming 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, our sons and daughters still endure sufferings in Turkey only because they are Armenians," said Ter Daniil Kukuyan, an Armenian Church priest.

Upon completion of the liturgy the attendees issued a statement addressed to the international community that says in part, "Hrant Dink's assassination is the result of policy of hatred towards national minorities pursued by the Turkey leadership. This outrageous murder is a threat to all those in Turkey who dare to speak of the Armenian Issue. The Turkish authorities themselves ordered Dink's assassination. They created the atmosphere of intolerance by inculcating in the population the thought that Turks are the highest nation and, consequently, murder of an Armenian is not a surprising thing. There is no doubt that Armenians living in Turkey are in danger. A hundred of years ago Turks annihilated some 2 million of Armenian population. This crime proves that the spirit of national intolerance has been maintained. Turkey once against demonstrated its incapability to join civilized Europe. Armenians of Krasnodar express solidarity with the Armenian Diaspora and urge the international community to pacify Turkey and prevent it from perpetrating another Genocide."