Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07YEREVAN81
2007-01-24 10:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

ARMENIANS REMEMBER HRANT DINK WITH VIGILS, MARCHES

Tags:  PREL PHUM PGOV TU AM 
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VZCZCXRO6695
RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHYE #0081 0241042
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241042Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4767
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1179
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0521
UNCLAS YEREVAN 000081 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TU AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIANS REMEMBER HRANT DINK WITH VIGILS, MARCHES
AND RALLIES

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000081

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TU AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIANS REMEMBER HRANT DINK WITH VIGILS, MARCHES
AND RALLIES


1. Bearing signs that read "We are all Hrants," in
acknowledgment of similar slogans borne by protesters in
Istanbul, several thousand Armenians attended a January 23
memorial gathering for slain Armenian-Turkish journalist
Hrant Dink at Yerevan's Freedom Square. Event organizers, a
small ad hoc group consisting largely of young diasporan
transplants, as well as acquaintances of Dink, spoke in
English and in Armenian about the tragedy of his death.
Aside from a few signs calling for "genocide" recognition,
the portion of the event attended by CDA and Poloff was free
of unhelpful rhetoric; none was reported in the local press
on January 24, either. CDA was swarmed by cameras and voice
recorders within minutes of walking into the crowd at the
event, and his comments about the tragedy and hope for
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations were widely
broadcast.


2. The event was one of many that have been held in Dink's
honor since January 20, including a candlelight vigil and a
protest march that ended at the European Union office in
downtown Yerevan. Crowds at the first two events, advertised
mainly by text message and e-mail, were only in the dozens.
The organizers publicized the January 23 gathering on
television and radio to increase attendance. Deputy Foreign
Minister Gegham Gharibjanian attended the rally; DFM Arman
Kirakossian attended Dink's funeral in Istanbul. A march to
the "genocide" memorial was planned for January 24 (COMMENT:
We suspect this event to be more politicized, given its
location. END COMMENT.)
GODFREY