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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release October 27, 1999

          STATEMENT OF VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE ON THE DEATH OF
                ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER VAZGEN SARGSYAN

Washington, DC -- The Armenian Government has confirmed that Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan died today after an attack in Parliament that also took the lives of other top Armenian officials.

I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Prime Minister Sargsyan and to the families of all those who lost their lives in this vicious attack on democracy. I was fortunate to have had a chance to meet with Prime Minister Sargsyan last month at the White House. He spoke of the commitment of the Armenian people to build a peaceful and prosperous democracy.

I condemn in the strongest possible terms this wanton, reckless effort to subvert that democracy. I am confident this tragedy will only strengthen the determination of the Armenian people to choose their own leaders, and to work toward peace and prosperity in Armenia and throughout the region. We in the United States will continue to work with the Armenian people in pursuit of those goals, as we continue to reach out to them to deepen the U.S.-Armenian friendship.

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