Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent a condolence message on the passing of Leo Sarkissian, great music fan and humanist, the longtime producer of Africa’s Music Voice program of the Voice of America service.

The message reads in part: “Leo Sarkissian embodies the universal values and ideas that cannot be ignored by the achievements and contribution of not one individual, nation, and especially a continent; a person who succeeded through decades of hard work to promote African music on the world stages and captivate the hearts of millions of people in Africa and around the world.

I am confident that Leo Sarkissian’s legend will last long, keeping in our hearts bright memories, mutual respect and love. I express my condolences to Maestro’s relatives, the staff of the Voice of America, as well as to all its fans.”