ABRAMYAN OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF A-320 PLANE VICTIMS

ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 3, 2006 Wednesday 11:06 AM EST

The President of the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World
Armenian Congress, Ara Abramyan, has offered deep condolences to the
next-of-kin of those who died in the A-320 plane crash near Sochi,
southern Russia.

“There were Russian and Armenian citizens on board the plane. It is
a great tragedy for our people. We mourn over this loss,” Abramian
said in a statement.

The two countries’ presidents decided to announce May 5 as the day of
mourning in Russia and Armenia, which would embody solidarity between
our peoples and the readiness to lean on each other’s shoulder and
find consolation in each other in minutes of great distresses and loss,
the statement said.

Abramyan said the Sochi-based Union of Armenians set up a center for
helping relatives of the A-320 victims arriving in the city.

He assured that the two organizations he heads would contribute to
the relief aid fund for the families of the victims, if it was set up.