Owner of Armenian airline criticizes controller
Interfax, Russia
May 6 2006
YEREVAN. May 6 (Interfax) – Cockpit voice recordings “prove” that the
captain of an Armenian airliner that crashed off the Russian Black
Sea coast on Wednesday “was acting in a perfect way, something that
cannot be said of the [ground] controller,” said the owner of the
company that owned the plane.
“No one has ever blamed the crew and the captain of the aircraft for
anything. It’s simply a lot of rubbish that irresponsible people are
saying,” Mikhail Bagdasarov told the Armenian web portal “Panorama.”

Controller may have contributed to Black Sea crash – airline
17:50 | 06/ 05/ 2006
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 6 2006
YEREVAN, May 6 (RIA Novosti) – An aircraft traffic controller on duty
when an Armenian plane crashed into the Black Sea killing 113 people
may have played a role in the tragedy, the owner of the airline in
the tragedy said Saturday.
Armavia Airlines head Mikhail Bagdasarov said a complete version of
a recorded conversation between the air traffic controller at the
Russian airport and the pilot of the Armenian plane showed that the
pilot had acted correctly.
Bagdasarov said that a recording between Airbus pilot Grigory Grigoryan
and traffic controller at Adler airport previously made public had
been incomplete.
“The complete version of the taped conversation shows that the pilot
of the A-320 jet was doing everything right, which cannot be said
about the air traffic controller,” Bagdasarov said in an interview
with Armenian Internet site Panorama.am.
He said the ground controller had sent told the pilot to make a second
circle before landing when the pilot was almost landing already.
“He had nearly 200 meters left to the runway when he was sent back
to make a second circle. And this was at a time when the air traffic
controller had no right to order but could only advise,” Bagdasarov
said.
However, he added he did not blame the air traffic controller.
“In such situations, you cannot say that the air traffic controller
made the mistake that caused the accident,” he said. “The controller
made mistakes which made the situation worse.”
He said there could be a combination of reasons that caused the crash
but cautioned against putting the whole blame on the pilot.
“He was an experienced, good pilot, one of the best,” Bagdasarov said.
The Airbus was flying from the Armenian capital, Yerevan, to Adler
airport, which services the popular Russian resort of Sochi, when it
crashed six kilometers off the Russian coast early Wednesday morning.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said bad weather most likely
caused the tragedy.
In comments on rumors that the crew was incomplete, the Armavia owner
said the crew included both a navigator and flight engineer.
“How can a plane take off without a navigator?” he said. “There is just
a group of people who spend their time making up this sort of gossip.”
Armavia Airline set up on December 12, 1996 is Armenia’s national
airline company. On June 5, 2005, Bagdasarov, president of MIKA
Armenia Trading, became the owner of 100% of the company’s shares.
Armavia passenger traffic totaled 507,000 in 2005 against 380,000
in 2004.
Armenia’s civil aviation commission said it would hear comments from
air traffic controller of the Adler airport Saturday, spokeswoman
Gayane Davtyan said.
She denied rumors that the controller was being hidden for fear of
the victims’ families.
“Nobody is hiding the ground controller from anyone,” Davtyan said,
adding that he was working with commission experts on decoding the
recordings.

Five Years of Membership of Armenia to the Council of Europe
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
May 6 2006
On May 5 RA NA Artur Baghdasaryan received Jean-Louis Laurens, Director
General of Political Affairs of the General Secretariat of the Council
of Europe. Boyana Urumova, Special Representative of the General
Secretary of the Council of Europe in Armenia attended the meeting.
During the meeting the sides touched upon the achievements of five
years after the membership of Armenia to the Council of Europe and
prospects. It was noted that those years have been years of active
work and cooperation, during which the guidelines of the path from
the Council of Europe to the European Union have been outlined. RA
NA President Artur Baghdasaryan touched upon the process of the
fulfillment of the undertaken obligations of Armenia in the Council of
Europe, noting that after the constitutional amendments legislation
reforms are made in judicial, local self-government and territorial
management systems and Electoral Code.
Mr. Laurens, highlighting the success of democratic reforms in Armenia,
underscored the necessity of the existence of legislative bases and
political will for holding the general elections free and fair. In
Mr. Laurens’ opinion, five years ago the political course adopted
by Armenia in the aspect of getting integrated into European family
and the accepted value systems for the progress of Armenia is of
positive importance.

No more bodies found at A-320 crash site
Interfax, Russia
May 6 2006
SOCHI. May 6 (Interfax-South) – No more body parts have been found
at the site of the Armavia plane crash during the past 24 hours,
Sergei Aristov, vice-chairman of the commission investigating the
air disaster, told journalists on Saturday.
“Fifty-one bodies have been retrieved, as reported previously.
Forty-four bodies have been identified and 34 repatriated to Armenia,”
Aristov said.
The remains of seven passengers have yet to be identified.
An Armavia A-320 passenger liner crashed near Sochi while attempting
to land early on May 3. All passengers and crew aboard the plane were
killed in the disaster.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 6 2006
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV, CHAIRMAN OF THE 9TH ECO SUMMIT
[May 05, 2006, 22:00:59]
Dear friends, I express my deep gratitude for electing me as chairman
of the 9th Economic Cooperation Organization summit.
Dear presidents, dear heads of delegations, dear prime ministers.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
First of all, I avail myself of the opportunity to greet all of you
in Azerbaijan Republic and wish success and achieving concrete
results at today’s summit. I am grateful to President of the
Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmonov who presided at the 8th
Economic Cooperation Organization Summit. Moreover, I thank Mr.
Askhat Orazbay, who is completing his mission as ECO secretary
general, for his efforts towards development of the organization. I
offer my hearty congratulations to its new Secretary General Khurshid
Anwar on his election to the high office and best wishes for success
in his future activity.
At today’s summit, the work of the organization will be analyzed
and we shall share our views on the accomplishments achieved. I am
sure that at the same time there will be an effective dialogue on the
further prospects of the organization.
After Azerbaijan regained its independence we joined various
international organizations and initiatives. We became a member of
the Economic Cooperation Organization as well and attribute a great
importance to our activity in this organization. The member states of
the organization are bound together by historic and cultural ties.
Our shared history, customs and traditions make us even closer and
provide a good basis for successful activities. The role of the
Economic Cooperation Organization, at the same time, is also
increasing In terms of regional cooperation. As you know, economic
potential of the member countries is increasing and as a whole, it
comes as our region has possibly achieved the highest economic growth
rate. Economic capabilities of the member countries are widening and,
of course, open up new opportunities for both bilateral and
multilateral successful cooperation.
Azerbaijan attaches an extremely great importance to the issues of
regional cooperation. We are a participant as well as an organizer of
some international regional projects and would like to have more
concrete projects within the Economic Cooperation Organization too.
We have to discuss specific issues and take all necessary practical
steps.
The economic development of Azerbaijan is going on rapidly. Last
year, Azerbaijan posted economic growth of 26 percent. It is our
history’s highest figures, which, first of all, allows us to
realize all our plans associated with socio-economic issues. GDP
growth in Azerbaijan increased up to 40 percent in the fist quarter
of this year and in general, it is likely to remain around the same
level until the end of the year. On the one hand, opening of 380
thousand new jobs over the past two years and a half helps to
eradicate unemployment, on the other hand, it drastically reduces the
number of people living in poverty.
The increase in economic indices naturally boosts the country’s
capabilities. Favorable conditions are being created to strengthen
bilateral and multilateral relations. I am confident economic
projects connecting us will bring fruits in the future. Azerbaijan
and neighboring countries are doing much work to deliver Caspian oil
and gas resources to the world markets. After commissioning of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline linking the Caspian and
Mediterranean Seas, economic situation in the region as well as
security measures should be strengthened more. We consider regional
cooperation projects should serve all the objectives. They will have
a positive impact on strengthening economic ties, increasing economic
potential as well as on establishing peace and tranquility in the
region.
Besides, construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline to deliver
Azeri gas from to Turkey and then to European countries, which is of
great importance for both Azerbaijan and neighboring nations, is to
finish in a few of months.
Oil and gas pipelines connecting Azerbaijan with Turkey as well as
our successful cooperation with neighboring Islamic Republic of Iran
in the energy sector, implementation of gas and electricity projects
through exchange are of vital importance for ensuring the
cooperation. I can say that we maintain very good bilateral relations
with all the member states and highly appreciate this.
Strengthening transport infrastructure is extremely important for our
region and all our states. Azerbaijan plays and will continue playing
its role in opening transport corridors East-West and North-South.
These projects will make us closer as existence of the transport
infrastructure heightens our economic capabilities and provide new
wonderful conditions for economic cooperation. As all you know,
Azerbaijan is keen on the operation of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia
transport corridor and is a participant of the TRACECA program.
Besides, the railway linking Europe and Asia arouse a great interest
as well. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is important not only for our
countries but also for the whole region. Should we manage to realize
this – I don’t doubt we will – there will be the shortest route to
connecting Europe and Asia. Undoubtedly, as a transit country
Azerbaijan should settle the issues of providing transport
infrastructure for friendly countries.
In short, there are all conditions for overall economic cooperation.
No doubt, peace and security in the region should be strengthened for
its further deepening. In its turn, Azerbaijan is actively involved
in such matters and will continue its activity in the future too. At
the same time, there are many issues that arouse concerns. First of
all, all the countries should take common approach to the issues of
fighting terrorism. The world should combine its efforts, as it will
be extremely difficult to achieve serious success on one’s own. We
should look at all terrorist organizations from the same viewpoint,
without any discrimination because we will be able to combat against
this evil only through combining our efforts.
Azerbaijan is the country, which also suffered from terrorism.
Armenian terrorist organizations committed over 30 acts of terrorism
against Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis killing over 2000 innocent
people. Today, the continuing Armenia’s aggression against
Azerbaijan, policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis resulted
in displacing over a million of Azerbaijanis from their native lands
are the biggest drawback, and huge obstacle on the way of regional
cooperation development. We are striving for the peaceful resolution
of the matter, considering that the possibilities for this still
exist. Therefore, we need to realize all possibilities. At the same
time, patience of the people of Azerbaijan is not unlimited. We
believe that this issue – Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, can be settled
only in line with international law principles. Armenian occupation
forces should leave Azerbaijani lands, Azerbaijanis should return to
their lands. Justice must be restored this way. Territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan is recognized by all but Armenia. It is recognized by
the United Nations and of course, cannot be the subject of
negotiations. I want to avail myself of the opportunity to express my
deep gratitude to all the member countries for supporting
Azerbaijani’s stance.
Reduction of risks, successful economic cooperation, energy security
are the issues that will ensure the development of peace. We are
located in the extremely important but very sensitive region. There
are conflicts, menace and risks in it. I do not doubt that the
Economic Cooperation Organization will honorably fulfill the goal
facing it and our cooperation will be strengthened, our successful
interaction both in bilateral and multilateral format will have a
very positive impact on the whole region.
Dear friends and guests, I once more greet all of you here in
Azerbaijan and wish every success in the your work. Thank you.

Armenian airline to buy lease 3 Airbuses after crash, fire
14:45 | 06/ 05/ 2006
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 6 2006
YEREVAN, May 6 (RIA Novosti) – Armavia, Armenia’s national airline,
said Saturday it would lease three new Airbus planes after losing two –
one with 113 people on board – in three days earlier this week.
An Armavia-owned A-320 crashed into Black Sea in stormy weather
Wednesday with the loss of 105 passengers and eight crewmembers,
and another one was destroyed in a fire at Belgium’s Zaventem airport
early Friday.
The company said in a news release that the additions to its fleet
would only be “new aircraft.”
The release said the first A-319 produced in 2004 or 2005 would start
operating by May 15.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Speed loss probably caused Black Sea crash – Armenian air chief-1
15:11|06/ 05/ 2006
YEREVAN, May 6 (RIA Novosti)-Bad weather most likely caused a dramatic
loss of speed that led to an Armenian Airbus crashing into the Black
Sea Wednesday, killing 113 people, the chairman of Armenia’s aviation
association said Saturday.
Dmitry Adashyan said, “In my opinion, which is based on preliminary
information, the main version of the liner’s loss was a loss of speed,
which fell to below the minimum ‘critical’ speed.”
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said Wednesday that bad
weather was most likely to have caused the crash and Adashyan, who
is also a former head of Armenia’s civil aviation authority, echoed
the idea.
He said that after losing speed the plane’s nose section dropped and
fell into a spin.
“The resistance of a ‘wet’ plane increases several times and so the
engines might not have had enough power, which could have caused the
nose to drop,” he
said.
Adbashyan also said lighting could have been responsible for the
tragedy.
“The Airbus might have crashed after a lightning strike,” he said.
The A-320 operated by Armenia’s Armavia was flying from the Armenian
capital, Yerevan, to Adler airport, which services the popular Russian
resort of Sochi, when it crashed six kilometers off the Russian coast
early Wednesday morning.
Adbashyan said he hoped that the flight recorders would be recovered
from the seabed on Saturday. He added that many parties wanted to find
them, particularly France-based Airbus, which was seeking confirmation
that a technical malfunction was not responsible for the tragedy.
“We know where the ‘black boxes’ are and bringing them to the surface
is only a technical matter,” he said.
Experts said earlier they believed the recorders were at a depth of
680 meters (2,230 feet).

Georgia Tries to Politicize Tragedy in Black Sea
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.05.2006 15:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia is trying to politicize the tragedy of the
Armenian airbus in the Back Sea, former Chair of General Department of
Civil Aviation of Armenia, Chair of the National Aviation Union, USSR
honored pilot Dmitry Atbashyan told journalists in Yerevan. “Official
Tbilisi tries to divide Russia and Armenia,” he said, when commenting
on statements of Georgian dispatcher services that landing the A-320
plane in Sochi airport was not possible due to bad weather.
According to Atbashyan, the data of Sochi dispatcher service could
not be less reliable than those of the Georgians. “During the flight
constant communication is present between the pilot and dispatchers
of the taking off location and the destination,” he said, reports
Novosti Armenia.

Recurrent sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers of CIS countries to be
held in Baku
ArmRadio.am
06.05.2006 16:25
The recurrent sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers of CIS
countries will be held in Baku on May 31, Press Service of the CIS
Executive Committee informs.
The agenda of the sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers will
be determined during the upcoming meeting of experts.
The agenda includes issues related to expansion of cooperation in
military-technical and defense spheres, coordination of the activities
to fight interethnic crimes, etc.

DMITRI ATBASHYAN’S VERSIONS ON THE CRASH of A320
Lragir.am
06 May 06
The president of the National Aviation Society Dmitri Atbashyan,
a meritorious pilot of the Soviet Union, gave his suppositions on
the crash of A320 on May 6.
“I rely on clearly reported facts. We do not know what records the
black boxes contain, we do not know what happened. We know that the
plane plunged into the water at an extremely high speed 6 km from
the shore. In addition, the fall was so heavy that the plane broke
to small pieces. The plane could break to small pieces for two reasons.
If the plane were airtight, even a light blow would make it explode.
Second, it could break into small pieces on plunging into the water
at a high speed. It is a fact that the plane was out of control
when it fell into the water. If on falling into the water the plane
were controllable, the pilot would manage to report that they were
running out of fuel and he decided to land on water, etc.” and land on
water. All the pilots are trained to land on water, both theoretically
and on special equipment.
Why did the plane fall? There can be different reasons. First, they
lost speed. The plane stays in the air as long as it has the minimum
speed required to stay in the air. If the speed is below the minimum,
the train falls on a spiral trajectory. Modern planes cannot resist
the fall, they need 1-1.5 km to regain control of the plane. They did
not have so much distance. In other words, if the plane is falling,
the disaster is inevitable.
When the aerodynamics of a plane is disrupted, the minimum speed may
be different for a dry, wet, frozen plane. A wet plane is dangerous.
It is very difficult to fly in the rain. Sometimes the rain does not
reach the plane. Sometimes the rain reaches the plane and increases
resistance. In such cases the power of the engine may not be enough
to overcome the extra resistance.
Thunder and lightning could also affect the plane. Lightning conductors
are installed on the wings of the plane to discharge natural lightning
and charges, occurring between the wings of the plane. There have been
cases when the examination of the fragments of crashed planes showed
that one part or another was missing. For instance, there have been
cases when the pipe inside the wing, which supplies pressure equal
to the atmospheric pressure, was shorter by 3 meters. The crashed
A320 was not new and had been repaired.
It is impossible to assert that the plane plunged into the water at
a 60° angle. If the visibility was 3000 m, and the plane plunged
into the sea 6000 m from the coast, who could calculate the angle of
the fall?”
–Boundary_(ID_RW2aOPXUHZ6DORXPM1VnjA)–