ARKA News – 05/04/2006

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 4 2006

RA NA Deputy: Mass media to contribute to high-legitimacy of RA
authorities

3rd stage of negotiations over establishment of Armenia-EU activity’s
plan held in Yerevan

`Grief journal’ to be opened in RA Foreign Ministry and RA diplomatic
missions abroad in connection with Armenian plane crash near Sochi

President of Abkhazia sends condolence telegram to RA President
Robert Kocharyan

Air crash of Armenian airbus common tragedy of Armenian and Russian
peoples

Putin asks RF Attorney-General to do their best to find out reasons
of A-320 plane crash

Search-and-rescue operations of Armenian plane crash conducted on
high professional level

Armavia’s director general presents his condolences to all those who
were affected by crash of Armenian airbus

Bodies of air crash victims of Armenian A-320 to be delivered to
Yerevan at 22:00

Ambassador: Armenian President to travel to Ukraine in 2006 fall for
official visit

French Co-Chair of OSCE MG, Armenian President to discuss
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement

Igor Levitin: no presumed causes of Armenian aircraft crash under
consideration before black box cockpit tape recorder listening

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RA NA DEPUTY: MASS MEDIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH-LEGITIMACY OF RA
AUTHORITIES

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Mass Media will contribute to high-legitimacy
of Armenian authorities, as the Chairman of the RA NA Standing
Committee on Science, Culture, Youth and Education Hranush Hakobyan
told journalists.
`Taking into consideration coming parliamentary and presidential
elections in Armenia in 2007 and 2008, this question is timely as
never before’, Hakobyan noted in her speech during an event dedicated
to World Press Freedom Day, which was held in the UNO Yerevan office.
In her words, press creates image of political parties, politicians
and authorities, and popularity of this or that political power
depends on objectivity of Mass Media.
`I am sure that during coming elections Armenian Mass media will show
high-objectivity’, Hakobyan summarized. S.P. –0–

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3RD STAGE OF NEGOTIATIONS OVER ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMENIA-EU ACTIVITY’S
PLAN HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. 3rd stage of negotiations over establishment
of Armenia-EU activity’s plan in the framework of European
neighborhood policy was held in Yerevan. According to the Press and
Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during
negotiations sides discussed problems, which had remained unsolved by
the end of previous stage of program discussion. Results of
discussions were estimated by the participants as positive. During
negotiations the head of the Armenian delegation was the RA Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Armen Bayburdyan and head of the EU
delegation was EU Commission Director for Eastern Europe, South
Caucasus and Central Asia Hugo Mingarlly.
The European side expressed its sincere condolences regarding tragedy
of the Armenian air liner before the beginning of negotiations. S.P.
–0–

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`GRIEF JOURNAL’ TO BE OPENED IN RA FOREIGN MINISTRY AND RA DIPLOMATIC
MISSIONS ABROAD IN CONNECTION WITH ARMENIAN PLANE CRASH NEAR SOCHI

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. `Grief Journal’ will be opened in the RA
Foreign Ministry and RA diplomatic missions abroad in connection with
Armenian plane crash near Sochi. According to the Press and
Information Department of the RA Foreign Ministry, representatives of
accredited embassies in Armenia will be able to write down
condolences in this journal on May 5 and 6 from 12 till 15.00
o’clock,
A period of mourning was declared in Armenia on May 5 and 6 in
connection with crash of the Armenian airplane as well as in Russia.
Airplane of `Armavia’ Air Company flying from Yerevan to Sochi
crashed above Black Sea near Sochi on Wednesday night. According to
preliminary data all passengers and the crew of the plane were
killed. S.P.-0–

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PRESIDENT OF ABKHAZIA SENDS CONDOLENCE TELEGRAM TO RA PRESIDENT
ROBERT KOCHARYAN

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. President of Abkhazian Republic Sergey
Bagapsh sent a condolence telegram to the RA President Robert
Kocharyan in connection with tragic death of passengers and crew of
the A-320 Armenian air plane, RIA-Novosti reports. `On behalf of
people of the Abkhazian Republic and on my own behalf I express
sincere condolences the Armenian nation in connection with tragic
death of passengers and crew on board the Armenian plane A-320
belonging to `Armavia’ company. Sorrowful news about the air crash
entailing many human victims brought grief into hearts of Abkhazian
people. Big Armenian Diaspora lives in our republic, secular
friendship connects our nation with it. That is why sorrow of
irreplaceable loss becomes stronger’, telegram notes. Bagapsh
expressed sympathy to families and relatives of tragically perished
people. S.P.–0 –

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AIR CRASH OF ARMENIAN AIRBUS COMMON TRAGEDY OF ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN
PEOPLES

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. The air crash of the Armenian airbus A-320
near Sochi is a common tragedy of the Russian and Armenian peoples.
The press service of the Kremlin reports that Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated this
during their telephone conversation.
Putin also presented his condolences to Kocharian concerning this air
crash. Putin told Kocharian about the search and rescue operation
implemented by Russians in the air crash area and further actions
that are being planned.
In his turn, Kocharian expressed gratitude to the Russian President
for the telephone call and detailed information.
The Presidents presented deep and sincere condolences to relatives
and close people of the air crash victims
The A-320 airbus of the Armenian `Armavia’ air company crashed over
Black Sea near Sochi at night on Wednesday. All the people on board
were killed: 113 people, 77 of them were Armenian citizens. May 5 and
6 are announced mourning days in Armenia and May 5 was announced the
mourning day in Russia. R.O. –0–

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PUTIN ASKS RF ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO DO THEIR BEST TO FIND OUT REASONS
OF A-320 PLANE CRASH

YEREVAN, May 3. /ARKA-RIA Novosti/. Vladimir Putin asked the RF
Attorney-General Vladimir Ustin to do their best to find out reasons
of the A-320 plane crash.
`I hope that in short time, despite difficulties connected with
finding flight recorders, which I hope anyway will be found,
investigation will make clear the real cause of the catastrophe’,
Putin, RF President stated during his meeting with Ustin on Thursday,
RIA-Novosti reports. .
Plane crashed at Wednesday night, 113 people died. S.P. –0–

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PUTIN ASKS RF ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO DO THEIR BEST TO FIND OUT REASONS
OF A-320 PLANE CRASH

YEREVAN, May 3. /ARKA-RIA Novosti/. Vladimir Putin asked the RF
Attorney-General Vladimir Ustin to do their best to find out reasons
of the A-320 plane crash.
`I hope that in short time, despite difficulties connected with
finding flight recorders, which I hope anyway will be found,
investigation will make clear the real cause of the catastrophe’,
Putin, RF President stated during his meeting with Ustin on Thursday,
RIA-Novosti reports. .
Plane crashed at Wednesday night, 113 people died. S.P. –0–

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ARMAVIA’S DIRECTOR GENERAL PRESENTS HIS CONDOLENCES TO ALL THOSE WHO
WERE AFFECTED BY CRASH OF ARMENIAN AIRBUS

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Director General of `Armavia’ air company
Norair Belluyan presented his deep condolences to all those people
who have been affected by the crash of the Armenian airbus at night
on 3 May near Sochi.
`We grieve together with you and our grief is comfortless. There are
no words to express the whole pain of the sufferings of thousands of
people who received such a terrible news,’ Belluyan’s address says.
He pointed out that in spite of all the modern technological progress
and activities aimed at providing security of flights, we could not
overcome the raging element, and this terrible day will never be
forgotten.
Belluyan assured that over the time passed from the moment of the
tragedy, Armavia’s team works on decreasing the heaviest consequences
of the tragedy 24 hours per day. `Thousands of people from many
countries assist us with it. We receive addresses with words of grief
and support from enterprises, organizations, air companies, hundreds
and hundreds of people,’ Belluyan said.
At night on 3 May a shocking tragedy occurred over the waters of
Black Sea – the airbus A-320 of `Armavia’ air company crashed while
landing at the airport of the city of Adler under heavy weather
conditions. As a result, 113 people were killed, 6 among them were
children. R.O. –0–

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BODIES OF AIR CRASH VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN A-320 TO BE DELIVERED TO
YEREVAN AT 22:00

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA – `Novosty Armenia’/. Bodies of the air crash
victims of the Armenian A-320 airbus will be delivered to Yerevan at
approximately 22:00, RA Minister of territorial administration Hovik
Abrahamyan reported during a briefing at the government who leads the
intergovernmental commission for delivery of the victim’s bodies and
organization of funerals.
According to him, about 20 or 30 identified bodies will be delivered
to Armenia.
He said that 47 bodies have currently been take out and 20 of them
were identified.
`Today will visit `Zvartnots’ airport and discuss all organizational
issues with its administration: how will the bodies be delivered and
where their relatives will take them,’ he said.
The A-320 airbus of the Armenian `Armavia’ air company crashed over
Black Sea near Sochi at night on Wednesday. All the people on board
were killed: 113 people, 77 of them were Armenian citizens. R.O.
–0–

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AMBASSADOR: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO TRAVEL TO UKRAINE IN 2006 FALL FOR
OFFICIAL VISIT

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is to
travel to Ukraine in 2006 fall for official visit, Ukrainian
Ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko said Thursday in Yerevan.
Bozhko also said Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is
expected to visit Ukraine in June, before Kocharyan, to lay proper
groundwork for talks between the two countries”, Bozhko said.
In his words, a wide range of relations between the countries,
including ties in economy and defence areas, are expected to be
discussed during the presidential visit. M.V. -0—

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FRENCH CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MG, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS
NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. The French Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group
Bernard Fassier and RA President Robert Kocharyan are to discuss
issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in Yerevan. The press
service of the French Embassy in Armenia reports that Fassier has
arrived in Yerevan. He is only to hold a meeting with the RA
President. Immediately after the meeting, he is to leave Yerevan for
Baku.
The decision of Bernard Fassier’s visit was made as a result of
Moscow consultations between the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs with the
participation of Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrej Kasprzic. P.T. -0-

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IGOR LEVITIN: NO PRESUMED CAUSES OF ARMENIAN AIRCRAFT CRASH UNDER
CONSIDERATION BEFORE BLACK BOX COCKPIT TAPE RECORDER LISTENING

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. No presumed causes of Armenian aircraft crash
are being considered before black box cockpit tape recorder
listening, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said.
“We don’t consider any version so far until decoding black boxes and
giving evidence about what actually happened”, Levitin said.
In his words, the area of water where the accident happened is under
interior and emergency ministries’ control.
Armavia Armenian Air Company’s jet plunged into Black Sea near
Russian resort of Sochi Tuesday night. All 113 aboard the craft were
killed in the crash. M.V. -0—