THERE WERE FAMOUS PEOPLE AMONG THE PASSENGERS OF THE CRASHED PLANE

ArmRadio.am
03.05.2006 12:00

According to preliminary information, there were a number of famous
people among the passengers of the plane that crashed May 3 near
Sochi. These particularly include former Chief of National Security
Service Karlos Petrosyan’s son, former Director of the “Armenian
Airlines” Vyacheslav Yaralov, “Head of the VIP Service of “Zvartnots”
airport Albert Azaryan.

To note, all none of the passengers survived. Most of them were
citizens of Armenia.

COMMSSION ESTABLISHED TO ARRANGE FUNERALS OF THE PASSENGERS OF THE CRASHED PLANE

ArmRadio.am
03.05.2006 12:23

According to RA president Robert Kocharyan’s instruction, a commission
headed by RA Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan
has been established to arrange funerals of the dead passengers and
provide necessary assistance to their families.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF SOCHI HAS LAUNCHED A CRIMINAL CASE

ArmRadio.am
03.05.2006 12:45

Corpses of 25 passengers of the “A-320” airplane have been found in
the Black See.

According to Russian sources, at the point of crash of the plane the
depth reaches 300 meters.

Preceding the tragedy the “A-320” plane was going for a crash landing.

Prosecutor’s Office of Sochi has launched a criminal case according
to Part 2 of Article 283 of the Russian Penal Code.

The “A-320” airplane produced by “Airbus Industry” in 1987 was meant
for short and medium-distance flights. The plane executed its first
flight on February 22, 1987.

MAY 5-6 DECLARED DAYS OF MOURNING IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmRadio.am
03.05.2006 16:25

Today NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan signed a decree, according to
which May 5-6 have been declared days of mourning for those who died
as a result of the air crash on May 3, 2006.

NKR President’s Press Office informs that Heads of Ministries,
Agencies, Regional Administrations, the Mayor of Stepanakert, NKR
Representations in foreign countries have been instructed to bend the
state flag of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on these days of sorrow.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS GAREGIN II MOURNS WITH THE WHOLE NATION

ArmRadio.am
03.05.2006 15:51

The Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II expressed his condolences
to families and friends of the passengers of the plane that crashed
on its way to Sochi.

“With deep sorrow we learned about the crash of the plane and about the
numerous victims. We mourn this great and sudden loss together with the
relatives of the victims of the disaster and with the whole nation. We
express condolences to all relatives and friends of the dead. We pray
the God to accept the souls of the dead and confer peace to them.

We ask the God to give patience and consolation to the families of
the victims.

Prayer and heavenly blessing to the memory of the disaster victims,”
the message says.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IT IS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND THE BLACK BOX OF THE PLANE

ArmRadio.am
03.05.2006 16:52

Experts have declared that it is practically impossible to find the
black box of the crashed “A-320” airplane.

To remind, the plane fell May 3 night near Adler city, five kilometers
off the shore on its way from Yerevan to Sochi.

The search for the corpses of the passengers is also very hard, which
is connected with bad weather conditions. Besides, the depth of water
also makes the works more difficult. At the point of crash of the
airplane the depth of water reaches 300-400 meters, while divers can
reach the depth of 200 meters only. However, the Russian Emergency
Ministry does not exclude that in case of necessity they may employ
robots, which can carry out rescue works on the depth demanded.

So far the rescuers have managed to find 46 corpses.

ARMENIAN MPS RESPECTED THE MEMORY OF THE AIR CRASH VICTIMS WITH A MINUTE OF SILENCE

ArmRadio.am
03.05.2006 17:00

On the occasion of the crash of the airplane flying from Yerevan to
Sochi the National Assembly today interrupted its work with a minute
of silence.

At the initiative of NA Deputies, a commission comprising
representatives of all groups and factions has been created, which
will invite its first sitting today.

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE MR JEAN-LOUIS LAURENS VISITS ARMENIA

Lragir.am
03 May 06

On 4 May, Director General of Political Affairs of the Council of
Europe Mr Jean-Louis Laurens will pay official visit to Armenia.

The visit is organised in the context of celebrating the fifth
anniversary of Armenia’s membership in the Council of Europe. On
this occasion Mr Laurens will address the “Armenia and the Council
of Europe: Five Years of Membership” conference, which will take
place in Yerevan, on 5 May. On the sidelines of the conference,
Mr Laurens will have meetings with RA Foreign Minister Mr Vardan
Oskanian, RA Parliament Speaker Mr Arthur Baghdasaryan, RA Human
Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan and other high-ranking officials
as well as representatives of international organisations.

On 6 May, Mr Laurens will participate in the opening ceremony of the
Yerevan School of Political Studies (YSPS) academic year 2006 and
will deliver the first lecture for the new YSPS students.

UNITED STATES IS NOT LIKELY TO BUILD NEW NUCLEAR PLANT IN ARMENIA

Lragir.am
03 May 06

The head of the American party of the U.S.-Armenia Task Force on
Economic Cooperation Tom Adams stated this May 2 in Yerevan. The energy
security of Armenia and the question of closing the nuclear power plant
were discussed in the meeting in Yerevan. The minister of finance
and economy of Armenia Vardan Khachatryan said the Armenian party
presented our approach towards closing the nuclear plant of Armenia.

“The deputy minister of energy stated clearly that one of the
preferable options in our strategy is to launch the second nuclear
plant on the day when this generating unit closes down, and the
government is trying to raise funds for its construction,” says Vardan
Khachatryan. Official Yerevan says if the 44 megawatt generating unit
of the nuclear plant is closed down, a new 1000 megawatt generating
unit should be constructed.

“There was a broad discussion, and the American party made a very
correct observation, that closing the plant also requires funds,
and these funds should be raised beforehand because it is a big sum,
and we need to raise them first,” says Vardan Khachatryan, adding
that it is at the same time a small and a big problem. The head of
the U.S.-American delegation Tom Adams says closing down a nuclear
plant is an important question for the government of Armenia, as it
is essentially related to people. Tom Adams reminded the disaster in
Chernobyl. Armenia has to make an important decision in the upcoming
several years, and there are questions of safety and security, which
concern both Armenia and its neighbors, as well as huge economic and
macroeconomic consequences, says Tom Adams.

He stated that the standpoint of the United States on this issue
is the same; the United States will aid Armenia with research to
enable Armenia to make the right decision. However, Tom Adams says,
much more data is needed to make a final decision. U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia John Evans confirms this standpoint. According to him,
it is necessary to think on the future choice of energy capacity.

Ambassador Evans says today we must make a choice for tomorrow. John
Evans also urges to conduct a research to express an opinion on the
future of atomic energy in Armenia. The Americans, nevertheless,
do not endorse a new nuclear plant, and Tom Adams stated this. The
head of the American delegation to the U.S.-American Task Force on
Economic Cooperation stated that the United States believes there is
a better alternative to a second nuclear plant in Armenia. Tom Adams
says considering that Armenia is in a seismic zone it would be wiser
to find an alternative to a second nuclear plant. According to him,
the United States does not endorse the construction of a second nuclear
plant in Armenia, and no American company would build a second nuclear
plant in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WORLD WILL NOT IMPACT IRAN-ARMENIA COOPERATION

Lragir.am
03 May 06

The concerns about the nuclear program of Iran and possible
developments will not impact the U.S.-Armenia economic relations and
programs underway. This was stated by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John
Evans May 2. The ambassador also made it clear that the U.S. approach
towards Iran will not impact the Iran-Armenia energy programs.

He said the United States understands the state of Armenia, which
needs to diversify its energy sector, and here gas is concerned as
well. John Evans said the American legislation provides for sanctions
against entities that would make big investments to the energy sector
in Iran, however, he said, this is not the case.