AZG Armenian Daily #084, 07/05/2006

Crash

MANY VISITORS EXPRESS THEIR CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF
VICTIMS IN MAY 3 PLANE CRASH IN THE MOURNING BOOKS OF
RF EMBASSY TO ARMENIA AND RA FOREIGN MINISTRY

On May 5, since early morning, many visitors,
representatives of foreign embassies to Armenia,
statesmen, officials, students, schoolchildren were
visiting RF Embassy to Armenia to express condolences
in the mourning books to families of the victims in
the May 3 crash of A320 airbus. The visitors may leave
condolence messages in the mourning books of the
embassy till 4.00 pm RF Embassy informed that about
200 visitors, including the representatives of
embassies of Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Ukraine,
Belarus, Iran to Armenia, as well as UN Permanent
representative to Armenia Mrs. Consuelo Vidal.

On the same day, RA Foreign Ministry opened the
mourning books as well. The visitors may leave
messages of condolence there also today.

By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily #084, 07/05/2006

Sport

GEVORG DAVTIAN CHAMPION OF EUROPE

Brilliant performance in the 77 kilogram category at the European
Weightlifting Championship brought Gevorg Davtian the gold medal. In
snatch event the Armenian weightlifter lifted 160, 163 and 165 kg
barbells showing the best result and winning the title of European
Champion. His closest rival, Georgi Markov of Bulgaria, was behind
him with 6 kg.

Russian Vladislav Lukanin was the best in clean and jerk lifting 200
kg on third attempt. Gevorg’s 195 kg in the second attempt in clean
and jerk event secured him gold. Yet, he used his third attempt trying
to lift 200 kg barbell but failed. As a result Gevorg won silver in
clean and jerk event.

Gevorg Davtian became the third Armenian that has conquered European
Champion title since Armenia’s independence. The previous two
were Ashot Danielian (double champion of Europe) and Khachatur
Kyapanaktsian.

ARMAVIA AIRLINE PLANS TO LEASE THREE AIRBUSES FOR ITS SUMMER FLEET

Yerevan, May 6. ArmInfo. Armavia airline plans to lease three airbuses
for its summer fleet within the nearest future, Armavia press-service
told ArmInfo.

Already next week, the company’s fleet will be replenished with A-319
Airbus made in 1994 or 1995. Another two airbuses will be leased later.

Armavia had five airbuses. An A-320 crashed near Sochi three days ago,
another A-320 fully burnt at the air repair base “Sabina Technics”
in Brussels on May 5 night. At present Armavia has only three planes:
A-320 and two A-319. In addition, the company has Il-86, Yak-42
and Yak-40.

A-320 CRASH CREATED ATMOSPHERE OF GENERAL PAIN IN ARMENIA: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT:

Yerevan, May 6. ArmInfo. The crash of A-320 has created an atmosphere
of general pain in Armenia, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
said during his meeting with a delegation of Ramkavar Azatakan party
(Liberal Democratic Party).

The leader of the party Mike Kharapyan extended his deep condolences
on behalf of the Armenian Diaspora. He said that this tragedy was as
painful for the Diaspora as it was for Armenia.

The sides also discussed the possibility of more effective use of
the party’s potential in all-Armenian initiatives and particularly
the conduct of Armenia-Diaspora forum in Yerevan Sept 2006.

ARMEN SMBATIAN:THE SEARCH WORKS OF CRASHED A-320 AIRBUS WILL CONTINUE
UNLESS WE LOSE HOPE TO FIND ANYTHING

Yerevan, May 6. ArmInfo. The search works in the place of the May 3
plane crash will continue, unless we lose hope to find anything.

Armen Smbatian, RA Ambassador to Russia, said in the interview
to ArmInfo.

He said that the experts are going to use not only Russian diving
and submarine equipment but also foreign equipment in the search works.

At present, it is expected that foreign experts will arrive in Sochi
to find out whether their equipment will work in the conditions of
the Black Sea. Particularly, the experts from Cyprus, Italy, Great
Britain and France are expected to work with the Russian rescuers and
divers. In response to the question whether the experts will decide
to stop the search works, Armen Smbatian said that this may happen
only in case the experts are merely unable to pull out the black
boxes. But he added that he doesn’t lose hope.

Smbatian said that the relatives of the unidentified victims undergo
DNA expertise, at present. A group of relatives will return to Armenia
today, the rest will do that tomorrow. Those who didn’t find the
bodies of their relatives take symbolic ground and water to bury
in Armenia. According to the latest data, 51 bodies have already
been found.

Mr. Smbatian said that he will stay in Sochi till the end of the search
works. “The search operation will last for three more weeks,” he said.

OWNER OF ARMAVIA IS SURE THAT THE INCIDENTS IN BRUXELLES AND SOCHI
ARE A MERE COINCIDENCE

Yerevan, May 6. ArmInfo. Owner of ArmAvia company Mikhail Bagdasarov is
sure that the accidents in Sochi and Bruxelles are a mere coincidence.

To be reminded, ArmAvia started functioning in 2001. In 2002it became
an ally with ‘Sibir’ air company, Russia. In 2006 ‘Mika Armenia
Trading’ purchased the share of ‘Sibir’ and become the holder of 100%
ArmAvia shares.

In an interview to Gazeta.ru Mikhail Bagdasarov stated that at
present his company is to rent two more airplanes, produced in 2005
and 2004. Commenting on the statement by Sabena Technics that the A320
liner crashed in Sochi had never been in Bruxelles, Bagdasarov stated
that ArmAvia can provide documents witnessing how many time a year the
A320 was repaired in Bruxelles. He also said that there are also Sabena
Technics representatives in Yerevan, who realize scheduled testing and
particular repair. More complicated works are done in Bruxelles. It
is widely known that all the airplanes are to be tested before going
on a flight, otherwise they are not admitted, said Badgasarov. He
said that the burned A320 had been staying in Bruxelles under repair
for a month and the accident seems rather strange to him. He assured
that the author pf the abovementioned Sabena Technics statement was
either incompetent or gave false information on purpose.

MANY DEPUTIES LEAVE “COUNTRY OF LAW” PARTY

Yerevan, May 6. ArmInfo. Grigor Margarian, member of “Orinats Yerkir”
party, owner of a chain of “Belagio” restaurants, left the party.
Parliament sources informed ArmInfo about this.

According to ArmInfo another deputy left it, particularly. Samvel
Balasanian, head of the party’s faction, said he doesn’t know anything
about that.

It’s worth mentioning that yesterday deputy-entrepreneurs Melik
Manoukian and Arshak Mkhitarian also left “Orinats Yerkir” party. The
pro-party sources conditioned this by the strict position of “Orinats
Yerkir” party in the issue of privatization processes in 2000-2003. A
month ago Artak Sargsian, another member of the party, left that.

According to our information other 6 deputies will leave the party.
At present, there are 15 deputies in “CL” faction.

RELATIVES OF VICTIMS OF A-320 CRASH TO GET INSURANCE COMPENSATION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS

Yerevan, May 6. ArmInfo. The relatives of those killed in the A-320
crash will get money on the victims’ insurance policies for several
months, the owner of the Armavia company Mikhail Bagdassarov says in
an interview to Gazeta.ru.

This problem will be solved by the insurer, whose representatives
have already visited Sochi, are now working in Yerevan and will
later meet with the relatives. The money will be paid without fail,
says Bagdassarov.

OWNER OF ARMAVIA COMPANY SURE THAT BLACK BOXES OF CRASHED A-320 WILL BE FOUND

Yerevan, May 6. ArmInfo. The owner of the Armavia company Mikhail
Bagdassarov is sure that the black boxes of the crashed A-320 will
be found.

In an interview to Gazeta.ru he says that there are still lots of
questions. The plane was landing normally. Why was it sent – in a quite
rough manner – to make the second turn? And where is the controller
who did that? Nobody can find him. He has been hidden somewhere. This
might well be done for avoiding revenge by relatives, especially
as we all remember the tragic story with the Swiss controller whose
mistake caused a collision of two planes over Boden Lake.

Bagdassarov also comments on the version that some Armenian from
Sochi was near the controller when he spoke with pilots and heard the
pilots to reportedly say that their had problems with fuel and say:
“we are landing, we must pray.” He says that, first, it is strange
that some stranger was near the controllers as nobody can enter their
room. And second, the plane was refueled in Moscow (in Yerevan fuel
is more expensive). It had 17 tons. When it came to Yerevan it had
10 tons, which should suffice him for 4 hours. Those who have little
to do with aviation think that the plane ran out of fuel. This is
not true. The crew was very experienced and would never make such a
mistake, says Bagdassarov.

47 of Black Sea air crash victims identified

Interfax, Russia
May 7 2006

SOCHI. May 7 (Interfax-South) – The bodies of 47 people killed in the
crash of an Armenian airliner off the Russian Black Sea coast on May
3 have been identified, a source at the headquarters of the search
effort told Interfax on Sunday.

“Out of the 51 retrieved bodies 47 have been identified and sent to
places of burial,” the source said.

Also on Sunday evening rescuers discovered one more fragment of
the airliner’s fuselage on the sea bottom. The operations of rescue
vessels have been suspended until Monday morning.

“The deep-sea diving system Kalmar noticed aircraft fragments at the
depth of 450 meters, not 680 as believed before. The signals of flight
recorders were registered but their exact whereabouts have not been
established,” the source said.

He added that Kalmar would be further used on Monday. ml
From: Baghdasarian