GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT PAYS TRIBUTE TO ASSASSINATED ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER, APPEALS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES

Press Release
GA/SM/117

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT PAYS TRIBUTE TO ASSASSINATED ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER, APPEALS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES

Following is the statement delivered today by the President of the General Assembly, Theo Ben-Gurirab (Namibia) in tribute to the memory of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Vazgen Sargissian, who was assassinated today, 27 October:

Before I give the floor to the next speaker, I should like to inform the Assembly that I have received information from the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations that today, around 5 p.m. local time, five gunmen stormed the Parliamentary Sessions Chamber of the Republic of Armenia and opened fire.

According to this information, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargissian, as well as the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Parliament and a Minister, were killed. We must all condemn the disgustedly act of terrorism.

It is my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of the late Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, His Excellency Mr. Vazgen Sargissian, and other dignitaries, who met with tragic death today.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I request the representative of Armenia to convey our deep condolences to the Government and the people of Armenia and to the bereaved family of His Excellency Mr. Vazgen Sargissian, as well as of other senior Government officials.

I invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. Vazgen Sargissian and his fellow victims.

At this time, we understand the gunmen are still holding about 50 members of the Parliament and the Government as hostage. I strongly appeal for the immediate release of all hostages and an immediate end to this tragic situation.

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