Armenian President: We should learn our lessons from this

President of Armenia held a conference today with heads of National Security Service, Police, public prosecution and investigative agencies.

According to Armenian presidential press service, “President Sargsyan was informed that active negotiations are being held with the armed group to release the hostages held at Yerevan Police Station, lay down their weapons and surrender to the authoroties, and other necessary steps are being taken in accordance with the situation”.

“Let us state once again that our country is going through difficult times. Of course, I will not touch upon the reasons. It is not the right moment now. I will only say that we all should learn our lessons from this.

I would like to express again my condolences to the family and friends of Colonel Artur Vanoyan. We all owe him a debt. We should do everything to settle this difficult situation and prevent another tragedy.

The source of this situation  is the most dangerous mindset of our reality - to solve the issues with violence and use of force. Further development of such a mindset is fraught with dangerous consequences for our country and statehood.

No issue will be solved in Armenia by force, armed attacks and hostage taking. We will never allow that. Resolution of this situation should be the most important test for matureness of our public, state and Armenia.

I call on the armed persons, who took Yerevan Police Station, to show restraint and not to jeopardize others’ lives by their provocative actions.

The hostages should be released.

The armed group should lay down their weapons.

Further resolution will be realized in strict accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia.

All attempts at personal vengeance will be thwarted by the law.

Yes, the dissatisfied are many in Armenia. However, let no one believe they can abuse any motive or reason to shake the base of our statehood.

I advise all representatives of our public to exercise their civil rights in an exclusively peaceful manner and within the law. I also advise them not to fall under the influence of extreme actions, provocateurs and provocative ideas. This is fraught with a significant danger of new human losses.

I advise each person to realize the real threat coming from such provocations and extreme actions.

I instruct you, heads of law enforcement agencies, to continue your efforts with the greatest restraint and within the law.

We continue to take all possible measures to bring the situation to a final peaceful resolution.

Once again, I call on the armed group to lay down their weapons.

We are acting and will be acting with patience. Life and well-being of every citizen of our country is valuable to us.

We did not take the classic way to resolve such situation. Thus, we gave the armed group an opportunity to take a step back. I hope they will come to their senses.

However, we have no right to allow our entire society to become a hostage of this situation.

I believe that this state of affairs has already stretched longer than we can afford. Not that much time has passed since April events for our people to forget what happened.

Once again I call on for everyone to keep awareness and restraint for the sake of the Republic of Armenia and the future of our nation,” said Armenian President.