Armenian President conveys condolences to Presidents of Russia and USA

YEREVAN, July 2. / ARKA /. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan conveyed today his condolences to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in connection with the crash of helicopter MI-8 in Yakutia, which resulted in the death of a large numbers of people. Sargsyan asked his Russian counterpart to convey his condolences and support to the families and friends of the victims.

Russian authorities say 19 people have died after a helicopter carrying 28 people, including 11 children, crashed in a remote Siberian region of Yakutia. The Interstate Aviation Committee, Russia's top aviation body, said that a Mi-8 helicopter crash-landed in a remote mountainous area on Tuesday, dozens of miles away from the nearest village, and caught fire. The committee said there were 28 people on board. Emergency officials said that 11 of them were children. 

President Serzh Sargsyan sent also a letter of condolences to U.S. President Barack Obama in connection with  the death of 19  firefighters  in the  state of Arizona. Sargsyan’s press office said the president expressed support to Barack Obama, the families of firefighters and the friendly American people wishing them patience and  strength.

Nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, based in Prescott, Ariz., were killed Sunday evening when a windblown wildfire overcame them north of Phoenix. It was the deadliest single day for U.S. firefighters since Sept. 11. Fourteen of the victims were in their 20s. -0-