Hrant Dink awarded posthumously with Armenian President's prize

PanARMENIAN.Net - Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian has handed 13 nominal presidential awards for 2006. Agos Armenian-Turkish newspaper editor-in-chief Hrant Dink was awarded posthumously. Paolo and Vittorio Taviani also received the award for their Lark Farm



The award was for the first time conferred posthumously. "Hrant Dink's death is a great loss for our people. We will always remember him and I assure his family that Armenia is their home and we will always be glad to see them," Mr Kocharian said. When receiving the award, Dink's widow Rakel Dink said, "The award of the President of Armenia is honorary and sad for our family. I believe Hrant wished he could be among us now. He used to say that Armenia is a big Homeland and Diaspora appears as small islands."



Awards were also handed to a group of young scientists. "Today we have heard unknown names. But I wish these names to become Armenia's visit card in future," the RA leader said.



The presidential award has been conferred since 2001 with the assistance of Rober Poghossian and Sons Foundation and Hayastan All Armenian Fund, the RA President's press office reports.