[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27626]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER VAZGEN SARGSIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 1999

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my deepest 
condolences to the people of Armenia and their countrymen throughout 
the world, whose democratic struggle has been dealt a severe blow. We 
are greatly saddened at the untimely death of Armenian Prime Minister 
Vazgen Sargsian, who was assassinated along with a number of cabinet 
officials and lawmakers yesterday in the chambers of Parliament in 
Armenia.
  The forty-year-old Premier was a young and intelligent leader who had 
just been appointed Prime Minister by President Robert Kocharian last 
June. Though he clearly had many more brilliant years ahead of him, his 
stellar accomplishments in moving his country toward the road of 
democratic rule elevated him to the second highest political office in 
Armenia. The former athletic instructor, who was elected to parliament 
and served as Defense Minister prior to assuming the Premiership, was a 
man who embraced the ideals of free-market democracy.
  Along with several of my colleagues, I had the honor of meeting Prime 
Minister Sargsian here in the U.S. Capitol just four weeks ago. We 
discussed trade, commerce, and the establishment of closer relations. I 
shared with him the great honor I have to represent one of the oldest 
Armenian-American communities in my Los Angeles County district. I 
related to him how earlier this year, I visited the Armenian Mesrobian 
School, the Armenian Social Services Center, and the Holy Cross 
Cathedral, and was tremendously impressed by the efforts and resources 
that Armenian-Americans dedicate to the betterment of the entire 
community.
  I stand with my Armenian-American constituents who are undoubtedly in 
a state of shock over yesterday's violent acts. My heartfelt sympathy 
and earnest prayers are with the Armenian-American community, the 
people of Armenia and the families of the victims of this senseless 
tragedy.

                          ____________________