ISTANBUL - "Roads leading to peace were torpedoed after assassination of Dink," said Aydin Engin, a journalist and a close friend of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, on Saturday.
Speaking to journalists Engin said everybody emphasized his democratic and pacifist personality after his death. "However, no attempt was made to protect him before his death although he has very openly been a target."
Engin said, "despite the promises that had been made to find the perpetrators of similar incidents, they were never kept. The same process will be experienced in this incident."
"We do not accuse anybody. Fanatic circles always attacked Hrant. Those who wanted to prevent the Armenian Conference, and those who attacked Dink in newspapers have salt in this bloody soup," he noted.
Erdal Dogan, lawyer of Hrant Dink, said Dink has been receiving threats for 2.5 years.
"There has been hints for the past 2.5 years that this murder would be committed," he added.