DEPUTY EMERGENCY MINISTER SURE: A-320 FLIGHT RECORDERS WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE SEA
Panorama.am
15:49 04/05/06
Flight recorders of the A-320 airbus (Armavia airlines) that crashed
into the Black Sea will be taken out of the sea, Russian Deputy
Emergency Minister Yevgeny Serebryannikov is sure. According to him,
equipment has been delivered to the crash site that allows determining
location of the plane’s fragments. With the help of this equipment
the rescuers can examine wreckage of the plane 500 m beneath the
surface. It is unknown yet, for how long the search and rescue
operation will last, RSN reports.
As REGNUM earlier reported, A-320 airbus fell into the Black Sea
in the night of May 3 while landing. All the 113 people aboard were
killed.

FIRST FLIGHT WITH CORPSES OF VICTIMS TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN 10 P.M. LOCAL TIME
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 21:26 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Corpses of victims of the crash of A-320
Armenian liner will be delivered to Yerevan at about 10 p.m. local
time. Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan,
who leads the intergovernmental commission on delivery of corpses
and organization of funeral, stated it at a briefing today. In his
words, 20 or 30 identified corpses will be delivered to Armenia
to all appearance. “Today we will visit Zvartnots airport and will
discuss all organizational matters with its administration – how will
the corpses be delivered and conveyed to the relatives,” he said,
reports Novosti Armenia.

ACCORDING TO PRESS SERVICE OF GREAT VALLEY COMPANY, MASS MEDIA DISTORTS REAL FACTS OF INCIDENT WITH TIGRAN ARZAKANTSIAN IN MOSCOW
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. In connection with the incident that
happened in Moscow wih Tigran Arzakantsian, RA National Assembly
deputy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Great Valley company, the
company’s press service issued a statement “Deputy Tigran Arzakantsian
refutes fabrications”, which is presented below: “The Armenian mass
media covered in April the incident that happened in Moscow with
RA National Assembly deputy, Chairman of Board of Directors of the
Great Valley company Tigran Arzakantsian. The published information
completely distorts the reality, discrediting Mr T. Arzakantsian. In
this connection the press service of Great Valley company considers
it necessary to provide the following explanations. T. Arzakantsian
was in Moscow in March 2006. Late March 28, at the request of a
friend’s family members, he had to go to the Kutuzov Hall Casino in
order to keep a close acquaintance, who was capable of losing his
self-control in gambling excitement, from wasting a large amount
of money. Mr Arzakantsian himself did not participate in the game
but his actions aroused discontent of the casino management. They
invited Mr Arzakantsian to the office of one of the casino owners
under the nickname of Arik Grek to have a talk with him. In the office,
more than 20 armed bullyboys suddenly attacked T. Arzakantsian in the
presence of Grek, as a result of which Arzakantsian received serious
injuries, including brain injuries, and lost his consciousness. The
attackers also stole T. Arzakantsian’s valuable items. Their criminal
actions were stopped by the deputy’s friend who took him to hospital
where he received the necessary medical aid. When a few days later
T. ARzakantsian regained consciousness, Moscow law enforcers had
already opened a criminal case on the charges of inflicting severe
bodily injuries and robbery. The Russian colleagues of the deputy
– members of the Armenian-Russian interparliamentary cooperation
commission sent a letter to the RF Minister of Internal Affairs
R. Nurgaliev, Director of the Federal Service of Security N. Patrushev
and the Private Security Service of the RF Ministry of Internal
Affairs. “In connection with high status of the sufferer, we request
to give an assignment to check the process of investigation into the
criminal case,” the letter of a group of deputies reads. Mr Tigran
Arzakantsian is currently undergoing treatment in Moscow medical
institutions. He flatly refutes any discrediting information about
his debts and nonpayments, saying that he has no debt to any casinos
or their customers. Now he is only concerned with the problem of his
health, and the recovery will be a lasting one due to the serious
injuries he suffered. But Mr Tigran Arzakantsian intends to demand
printed refutation of the incorrect information spread by mass media,
while in case of refusal he is going to achieve restoration of his
honor and dignity by legal means. Deputy T. Arzakantsian is prepared
to provide explanations in person to the press after he returns
to Yerevan.”

CORPSES OF 53 VICTIMS OF A-320 CRASH FOUND
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 20:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Corpses of 53 out of the total of 113 victims
of the crash of A-320 airplane in the Black Sea. 20 of these are
identified. The grouping of forces and marine equipment of the Russian
Ministry of Extraordinary Situations (MES), Federal Frontier Service
and Ministry of Transport was increased during the previous day,
reported the Information Department of the Russian Ministry of
Extraordinary Situations.
“Operative headquarters are formed at Sochi port and Adler airport,
Russian MES operative groups work at the emergency site,” the MES
reported. 590 persons and 104 units of technical equipment (including
29 ships) participate in the search. These also include 177 persons and
43 machinery units (11 ships among them) of the Russian MES. Some 300
relatives of crash victims are hosted at Sochi hotels and boarding
houses, the Press Service of Sochi Administration said, Russian
media report.

US MOURNS VICTIMS IN ARMENIAN PLANE CRASH
Xinhua, China
May 4 2006
WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) — The United States said on Wednesday
that it expressed “sincere condolences” to those families of those who
lost lives in the Armenian plane crash that killed 113 people on board.
“We express our sincere condolences to the people of Armenia and
Russia as well as to the families of those who lost their lives in
the crash of the Armenian Airlines Armavia flight from Yerevan to
southern Russia,” the State Department said in a statement.
An Airbus A-320 of the Armenian airline belonging to the air company
Armavia went down into the Black Sea near the southern Russian resort
town of Sochi early Wednesday morning, killing all 113 people on board,
including six children and eight crew.
Bad weather conditions were responsible for the air tragedy.

SECOND PLANE WITH RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS SET OFF FOR SOCHI
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 02:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Second plane of Armavia air company having aboard
journalists and relatives of the victims of the crash of A-320 plane
set off for Sochi. First plane Yak-42, which departed for Sochi at
4:00 p.m.
has already returned to Yerevan safely. It had abroad Armenian
citizens, who were in Sochi during the crash.
We note that 20 psychologists from Armenia are at the tragedy venue
to assist relatives of the victims.

ARMENIAN CHURCHES WORLDWIDE TO OFFICIATE REQUIEMS ON AIR CRASH VICTIMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 02:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 5 Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) temples
worldwide will officiate requiems on victims of the air crash near
Sochi. We condole with relatives and friends of the victims. However,
we, the Christians, believe, that human soul does not die and we
will pray for the souls of the victims find their bliss in the Divine
Kingdom,” said head of the New Nakhichevan and Russian Dioceses of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, bishop Yezras Nersisyan, reports Interfax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER CONDOLES WITH FAMILIES AND RELATIVES OF VICTIMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 02:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NKR Parliamentary Speaker Ashot Gulyan condoled
families and relatives of victims of the crash of Armavia air company’s
A-320 airbus performing Yerevan-Sochi flight. “We got the news on the
catastrophe with deep sorrow. On behalf of the NKR Parliament and me
in person I condole with the families of the victims, wishing patience
and stable spirit,” the message of the NKR Speaker says. By a decree
of NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian May 5 is declared a mourning day
in Nagorno Karabakh.

POPE CONDOLED WITH RELATIVES OF VICTIMS A-320 AIRPLANE CRASH
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 02:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Pope Benedict XVI condoled with relatives of the
victims of the crash of A-320 airplane, which resulted in death of
113 people.
Official Vatican sent a respective telegram to Armenia today. The
message says, “Benedict XVI prays for the souls of the victims of the
tragedy,” as well as “those, who lost their relatives and friends”
in the crash, reports the Associated Press.

ARINC: TURKEY IS READY FOR COOPERATION TO REVEAL 1915 INCIDENTS
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 4 2006
ANKARA – “Turkey is ready to cooperate to reveal 1915 incidents. We
want historians to objectively research this tragedy which Anatolian
people lived together (during World War I) without prejudice,” said
Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc.
Inaugurating the 56th meeting of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary
Commission (JPC) at Turkish Parliament on Wednesday, Arinc said,
“a new period has started with October 3rd, 2005, the date Turkey-EU
accession talks started. With its decision (to open talks), the EU
gave a positive message to the whole world that Europe is based on
common values and norms. Turkey-EU JPC had great contributions to
current level on Turkey-EU relations.”
“Turkey has been in an impressive transformation process in recent
years. We have extended the individual rights and freedoms of
our citizens. Reforms in economy area have brought stability and
prosperity. Turkey is now among the most attractive countries for
foreign investors,” he noted.
Arinc said, “Turkish Parliament is determined to pursue this reform
process. We will exert efforts to complete new legal arrangements
within the scope of 9th Adjustment Package before summer.”
Regarding globalization, Arinc said, “globalization has brought various
tests to the EU. Terrorism, human trafficking and organized crimes are
threatening us all. Such global problems can only be solved through
cooperation and solidarity.”
“We should reconstruct our economies in order to deal with
international competition on one hand, and make fundamental rights
and freedoms prevalent on the other. This is the deal target of the
EU’s enlargement process. The EU has strengthened its influence in
the surrounding geography, and protected its peace, security and
prosperity as a result of the enlargement process,” he said.
Stressing that the EU would have to make a comprehensive definition of
itself, Arinc said, “this definition will include a transformation from
a social and economic organization into a global force. We consider
the EU membership a strategic target. It will be a part of a great
reform movement bringing forth universal standards and practice in
every aspect of daily life in Turkey.”
Referring to the so-called Armenian genocide, Arinc said, “Turkey
has been accused of committing genocide against Armenians during the
World War I for a long time. Historians could not come to a conclusion
yet. While Armenian circles describe these saddening events of 1915 as
‘genocide’, a number of distinguished Turkish and foreign historian
say that the Ottoman Empire decided in 1915 to relocate Armenian
people due to security reasons, and that it could not be described as
‘genocide’. Countless documents in our archives also proved it. Turkey
is ready to cooperate with the relevant sides to enlighten the 1915
events which Anatolian people had to suffer altogether during the
World War I. We want historians to carry out an unbiased research
without any prejudice on this tragedy. Last year, we proposed that
Turkish and Armenian historians should come together to carry out
a detailed, unbiased research both in Turkish and Armenian archives
and share all their findings with the world public opinion.”
“However, some friendly countries, especially France, which says
disputed events in its own past should be left to historians for
evaluation, but cannot endure even the debates on 1915 events,
contradict themselves. Their efforts to make legal arrangements which
accept even questioning the baseless Armenian claims as a crime are
nothing, but serious mistakes that will seriously disappoint Turkey.”
“We expect all our friendly countries to support our historical
proposal instead of making parliamentary decisions for domestic
reasons on these claims as if they are indisputable historical facts,”
Arinc added.