Over the last four years we came to believe that the dark years of the 1970s and the 1990s were finally behind us. We came to believe that the democratization and EU-driven opening up to the world was an irrecoverable process and that our democracy was about to converge with that of the EU. It appeared as if it was only a matter of time before we consolidated the gains we had made. The murder of Hrant Dink violently showed us that this is not the case. It showed us that there are pockets in this country willing to kill intellectuals to disrupt Turkey's democracy. It showed us that there are still people plotting to stop the transformation of this society.

It remains to be seen what the motives of the assassin and his accomplices were, but there is no doubt that the murder was a stab in the heart of our democratic existence. It was the rude awakening of a dream that this country was finally normalizing and integrating with the rest of the world. From now on, it will be much more difficult to revive the democratization momentum of 2003 and 2004. It will require much more energy, perseverance and determination to put Turkey back on track. The challenges, both from the inside and outside, will make it even more daunting.

There is no doubt that a lot depends on us intellectuals and elites, as we are also guilty in Hrant's murder. We did not raise our voices enough to question the absurdities in the cases against him. We did not fulfill the responsibilities of honest intellectuals nor defend him adequately. That is probably why we are so united in condemning the murder. Knowing that we were not there for him when he needed us torments our consciousness.

Hrant's assassination should remind all of us that we need to be more resolute in demanding a more open, transparent and democratic Turkey. We do not have a choice. Either we will dare to make the leap and move forward or condemn our children to live in a limited democracy.

Hrant Dink was a good journalist, an honest intellectual and a man who believed in the future of Turkey and Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. He was disliked by fanatics on both sides of the debate. By slaying him, we have committed a great crime against the social fabric of this country. By letting him down, we have damaged the already fragile internal situation with citizens of non-Turkish descent. By making him a target for fanatics, we have jeopardized the future of our democracy.

It is therefore critical for us to cling to the EU accession process and push for further reform, democratization and anchoring Turkey farther into the family of civilized democracies.

The first task ahead of us is to honor him with a respectful funeral and demonstrate to those who killed him that we stand by him and the freedoms he so passionately defended.

May his soul rest in peace.