WATERTOWN, Mass.–Raquel Dink, the widow of assassinated Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, visited the Central Office of the Armenian Relief Society in Watertown, MA Monday for talks issues facing Turkey’s Armenian community.
Dink was in Boston Sunday attending Panel Discussion at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on her late husband, titled “The Legacy of Hrant Dink.” She visited the ARS with Zadig Ozcan, a classmate of her late husband who currently lives in Boston.
Dink was welcomed by ARS Central Executive Board Member Maida Melkonian, ARS Executive Director Jirayr Beugekian, and members of the ARS Central Office staff. They were also joined by the Hairenik Weekly Editor Zaven Toriguian and Armenian Weekly Editor Khachig Mouradian for an informal luncheon and discussion.
During the visit, which lasted more than three hours, issues concerning the Turkish Armenian community, the situation of women in general, and Armenian women in particular, in Turkey and Western Armenia were discussed. Various proposals for future coordinated programs in support of Armenian women’s status and rights in today’s society were also mulled.
Dink, for her part, talked about the activities of the foundation established in memory of Hrant Dink. She also highlighted various activities by progressive intellectuals in Turkey aimed at furthering ideas and views for reaching justice and establishing peaceful coexistence between the Armenian and Turkish nations.
On her departure, Dink was presented with an illustrated volume about Armenian Needlework published by the ARS.