On behalf of the People of Armenia, President Kocharian and the members of Government, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for your presence here today. The loss of Prime Minister Sargsyan, Speaker Demirchian and the other political leaders will be tremendous for our nation, as they had all committed many years of public service to building this country and its institutions. We will feel their absence most immediately in their official functions, but also on an individual level as long time colleagues and friends. The events of October 27 prove to us that our country is not immune from acts of violence. Armenians are in shock to see such a tragic event occur in a city that has remained one of the safest cities in the world, despite very difficult times since independence.

Unfortunately assassinations have been part of the history of many nations and many great leaders. From Kennedy to Rabin, the world has seen senseless killings where individuals have taken upon themselves to seek revenge for various policies. Such assassinations always leave a void, raise questions and doubt about the ensuing policies and orientations of a country. They also put to test the country's social values, institutions and political system. For a young democracy such as Armenia, these assassinations will undoubtedly test the resilience of our political system and our institutions.

However tragic and outrageous these assassinations, President Kocharian is deeply committed to pursue a democratic and constitutional path in building the necessary consensus for a new leadership in parliament and in the government. All political factions in parliament, as well as the army are firmly behind the President in lending their political support. It is natural that the shock and the unprecedentness of such an event have caused certain reactions that have paved the way for various interpretations.

However, I would like to assure you that these will not detract the course of constitutional democracy in Armenia. Nor will these detract the course of political stability in a country that knows all too well the security risks associated with instability. While we face a difficult period in the days to come, we will survive this crisis with greater transparency and democracy in our institutions.

There have been many speculations and theories about these assassinations linking them to the various policy initiatives of the Government. Armenia's foreign policy, as well as the peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, are based on the country's national interests and government consensus, and will not change as a result of the recent assassinations. Both the late Prime Minister and the late Speaker of the House were firm supporters of Armenia's foreign policy and very much part of that consensus.

This violent attack has been unanimously condemned by all Armenians. Violence cannot be used under any circumstance as a political means in this country. This will not be tolerated by the Armenian government and the Armenian people. I can assure you that no efforts will be spared in seeking the answers to the questions raised by this attack. The offenders have been apprehended and will be subjected to criminal proceedings in accordance with Armenian law. The criminal investigation will shed further light on their motivations and any additional pertinent information.

Our thoughts today are with the families of all those who were killed on Wednesday. We pray that God give them the strength necessary to cope with these most difficult times. We are also most thankful for your presence here and for sharing our loss.