Given that it looks like we're starting the conversation a little early I thought I'm make some initial remarks:

His initial remarks were cautiously favorable: "You said all the right things in your opening statement."

But his initial remarks left a lasting impression of overconfidence.

"Her initial remarks calling a tax cut a 'cynical' idea was a pie in the face of her own party's leaders."

He denied them in brief initial remarks after the scandal broke this week.

After the initial remark that for him, humor had been temporarily extinguished, he addressed the current events in detail.

She then spends most of the time allotted to her initial remarks to answering him.

I have not included your initial remarks in your speaking time, because what you have said is important.

That surprised me, in view of his initial remarks.

Bird said he believed Thomas's initial remarks were made "in the heat of battle," under great frustation and disappointment.