DATE=10/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S-ARMENIA REACT (L)
NUMBER=2-255541
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has condemned the shooting
attack in the Armenian parliament, which came amid a
renewed U-S diplomatic effort to resolve the dispute
between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan over the
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in Azerbaijan. V-O-A's David
Gollust reports from the White House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton was briefed on events in Yerevan by
his foreign policy staff and issued a written
statement saying that he is shocked and saddened by
the attack - which he condemned as a senseless act
against people involved in building democracy in their
country.
The shooting - which killed Armenian Prime Minister
Vazgen Sarkisyan and several others - came about an
hour after U-S Deputy Secretary of State Strobe
Talbott had left Yerevan for Turkey after discussing
Nagorno-Karabakh with the prime minister and other top
officials.
In a talk with reporters here, Mr. Clinton said his
heart and prayers go out to the families of the prime
minister and the other victims, and added that he was
very concerned by the attack and its potential impact
on the region:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
We have a good relationship with Armenia and as
you know we've done a lot of work with Armenia
and Azerbaijan to try to resolve the
difficulties surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. The
two presidents have been very forthcoming. And
this is real blow to that country and to that
region.
/// END ACT ///
Deputy Secretary Talbott had also visited the
Azerbaijani capital, Baku, earlier in the week.
Administration officials say the motive for the
parliament attack remains unclear, but say there is no
reason to think it was connected to the Talbott
mission, or the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
Vice President Al Gore, who met with Prime Minister
Sarkisyan in Washington last month, also expressed
condolences to the Armenian people, saying he hopes
the assassinations will not weaken their commitment to
the democratic process and principles.
In Congress, House International Affairs Committee
chairman Benjamin Gilman said he and his colleagues
were appalled by what he called an act of "despicable
terrorism," and said Congress and the American people
stand ready to provide Armenians with the assistance
they need to help overcome the tragedy. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/JP
27-Oct-1999 16:33 PM EDT (27-Oct-1999 2033 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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