US NOT IN FAVOR OF BUILDING NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to construction of a
second nuclear power plant in Armenia were discussed at the 12th
sitting of the US-Armenia Task Force (USATF) in Yerevan on May
2. RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian stated
this at a press conference following the sitting. “The RA energy
minister presented clearly that if the operating Metsamor nuclear
power plant is closed, a new one must start operating on the same
day,” V. Khachatrian said. According to him, it is envisaged that
the second nuclear power plant should have a greater capacity of
1,000 megawatts. At the same time, as the finance minister noted,
the Armenian government must be able to obtain the necessary funds
for the construction of a new nuclear power plant and the closure of
the old one. Tom Adams, US Coordinator for Europe and Eurasia, said
that the US government is not in favor of the idea of building a new
nuclear plant in Armenia. In his words, taking the issue of security
into account, it would be more correct to find an alternative solution.

RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MET OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
ArmRadio.am
03.05.2006 11:21
On May 2 Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigori Karasin met
the Russian, American and French Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk.
“During the meeting the issues in the agenda of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict were discussed,” Russian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs informed.

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.