James Rogan: “I rise with great heaviness in my heart. I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Armenian Prime…”

“I rise with great heaviness in my heart. I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Armenian Prime Minister Vazgen Sargissian, Armenian Speaker Karen Demirchian, and the six other Armenian government officials gunned down yesterday in cold blood in the Capital City of Yerevan. I first met the late prime minister last month when I visited Yerevan. We had a candid and penetrating conversation. He was so cordial that he later asked me to cancel my evening schedule to join him for dinner. Just three weeks ago we met again here in Washington and he extended the same invitation for his next visit. I deeply regret that will never occur. Armenia is the oldest Christian nation in the world. Her commitment to freedom and democracy is in no small part due to the efforts of the late prime minister and his fallen colleagues. This morning the turmoil in Armenia has ended. Armenians will again go on today living in freedom, and dedicated to building a stronger nation for their children. The terrorists are in the hands of law enforcement and the rule of law will prevail. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the service of these eight Armenian patriots and their families on this very sad day.”