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PRESS RELEASE
July 15, 2009
ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY OF WESTERN U.S.A., INC.
Regional Headquarters: 517 W. Glenoaks Blvd.,
Glendale, CA 91202-2812
Contact: Boghos Patatian
Telephone: (818) 500-1343
Fax: (818) 242-3732
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.arswestusa.org
A.R.S. MOURNS TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE ABOARD CASPIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT #7908
Expresses Condolences and Stands Ready To Assist Surviving Family Members
GLENDALE, CA - It was with a very heavy heart that the Armenian Relief
Society of Western USA (ARS-WR) learned today of the tragic news of the
crashing of Caspian Airlines Flight #7908 from Tehran, Iran to Yerevan,
Armenia which went down near the village of Jannatabad, outside the city of
Qazvin in north-western Iran. According to reports from the Armenian Foreign
Ministry, 40 of the 168 victims confirmed dead on board were ethnic
Armenians, among them being Dr. Levon Davitian, a widely-known and respected
psychologist and former member of the Iranian Parliament, chairman of the
Tehran Prelacy Executive Council and the father of a former ARS employee.
Throughout the morning, our offices have been inundated with requests and
inquires related to this tragedy. Every effort has been made, on behalf of
the ARS, to accommodate these appeals. As its first order of business, the
ARS compiled and posted in three languages (Armenian, English and Farsi) the
names of all 42 victims on board who perished.
In realizing that the ARS-Western Region office has a significant
Iranian-Armenian constituency and having extensive background and
experience in reacting and responding to similar crises - as it did during
the Great Earthquake in Armenia 20 years ago and Hurricane Katrina in 2005
and the assistance it has extended to Armenia, Javakhk, Artsakh over the
years - immediately, the ARS leadership set in motion the proper procedural
apparatuses to provide, through both its Social Services and Psychological
offices, fitting and functional information, guidance, counseling and
assistance to anyone who sought or required such services.
"As with any such tragedy, the ARS stands at the ready and is fully prepared
to employ all of its global resources to help the surviving loved ones of
those who needlessly perished today in this awful airplane crash." Stated
Sossie Poladian, ARS of Western USA Regional Executive Chair. "We encourage
anyone in need assistance to contact the ARS immediately, having the full
assurance that the ARS will help any way it possibly can to ease the pain of
their horrible loss."
The ARS extends its deepest condolences to all of the surviving families,
friends and loved ones of all of the victims of Caspian Airlines Flight
#7908. May God rest their souls and provide peace and comfort to those they
have left behind.
The ARS of Western USA, is one of the 12 regions of the ARS international.
Its operations are coordinated through its regional headquarters in
Glendale, CA, with 26 chapters, five Social Service offices, a Child, Youth
and Family Guidance Center in Glendale, 17 Saturday and after-School
Programs, and one day care center in Montebello, CA.
# # #
Below is the list of Armenians who perished on the plane:
Annette Ajang
Nana Antashian
Edwin Asatrian
Arshavir Avakian
Azat Avanesian
Anoush Baboumian
Anna Poghosian
Levon Davtian
Martin Ter-Avanesian
Naira Stepanian
Shogher Stepanian
Melin Garanian
Karapet Ghoukasian
Armen Sargsian
Vavo Sargsian
Armen Sargsian
Yurik Shahbazian
Mrs. Shahmouradian
Khatchatour Simonian
Ara Siroyan
Zarmineh Souktazian
Vartanoush Tahmazian
Lousik Taroumian
Ramon Taroumian
Christine Ter-Hovannisian
Anahita Ter-Hovannisian
Tadeh Timash
R. Yaghoubian
Arthur Gregorian
Taline Karapetian
Edward Khatchik
Nairi Mayilian
Florik Hovsepian
Arshavir Manaserian
Karine Markarian
Massis Matian
Ani Melkoumkar
Arin Melkoumkar
Edward Navasartian
Ashot Nersisian
July 15, 2009
ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY OF WESTERN U.S.A., INC.
Regional Headquarters: 517 W. Glenoaks Blvd.,
Glendale, CA 91202-2812
Contact: Boghos Patatian
Telephone: (818) 500-1343
Fax: (818) 242-3732
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.arswestusa.org
A.R.S. MOURNS TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE ABOARD CASPIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT #7908
Expresses Condolences and Stands Ready To Assist Surviving Family Members
GLENDALE, CA - It was with a very heavy heart that the Armenian Relief
Society of Western USA (ARS-WR) learned today of the tragic news of the
crashing of Caspian Airlines Flight #7908 from Tehran, Iran to Yerevan,
Armenia which went down near the village of Jannatabad, outside the city of
Qazvin in north-western Iran. According to reports from the Armenian Foreign
Ministry, 40 of the 168 victims confirmed dead on board were ethnic
Armenians, among them being Dr. Levon Davitian, a widely-known and respected
psychologist and former member of the Iranian Parliament, chairman of the
Tehran Prelacy Executive Council and the father of a former ARS employee.
Throughout the morning, our offices have been inundated with requests and
inquires related to this tragedy. Every effort has been made, on behalf of
the ARS, to accommodate these appeals. As its first order of business, the
ARS compiled and posted in three languages (Armenian, English and Farsi) the
names of all 42 victims on board who perished.
In realizing that the ARS-Western Region office has a significant
Iranian-Armenian constituency and having extensive background and
experience in reacting and responding to similar crises - as it did during
the Great Earthquake in Armenia 20 years ago and Hurricane Katrina in 2005
and the assistance it has extended to Armenia, Javakhk, Artsakh over the
years - immediately, the ARS leadership set in motion the proper procedural
apparatuses to provide, through both its Social Services and Psychological
offices, fitting and functional information, guidance, counseling and
assistance to anyone who sought or required such services.
"As with any such tragedy, the ARS stands at the ready and is fully prepared
to employ all of its global resources to help the surviving loved ones of
those who needlessly perished today in this awful airplane crash." Stated
Sossie Poladian, ARS of Western USA Regional Executive Chair. "We encourage
anyone in need assistance to contact the ARS immediately, having the full
assurance that the ARS will help any way it possibly can to ease the pain of
their horrible loss."
The ARS extends its deepest condolences to all of the surviving families,
friends and loved ones of all of the victims of Caspian Airlines Flight
#7908. May God rest their souls and provide peace and comfort to those they
have left behind.
The ARS of Western USA, is one of the 12 regions of the ARS international.
Its operations are coordinated through its regional headquarters in
Glendale, CA, with 26 chapters, five Social Service offices, a Child, Youth
and Family Guidance Center in Glendale, 17 Saturday and after-School
Programs, and one day care center in Montebello, CA.
# # #
Below is the list of Armenians who perished on the plane:
Annette Ajang
Nana Antashian
Edwin Asatrian
Arshavir Avakian
Azat Avanesian
Anoush Baboumian
Anna Poghosian
Levon Davtian
Martin Ter-Avanesian
Naira Stepanian
Shogher Stepanian
Melin Garanian
Karapet Ghoukasian
Armen Sargsian
Vavo Sargsian
Armen Sargsian
Yurik Shahbazian
Mrs. Shahmouradian
Khatchatour Simonian
Ara Siroyan
Zarmineh Souktazian
Vartanoush Tahmazian
Lousik Taroumian
Ramon Taroumian
Christine Ter-Hovannisian
Anahita Ter-Hovannisian
Tadeh Timash
R. Yaghoubian
Arthur Gregorian
Taline Karapetian
Edward Khatchik
Nairi Mayilian
Florik Hovsepian
Arshavir Manaserian
Karine Markarian
Massis Matian
Ani Melkoumkar
Arin Melkoumkar
Edward Navasartian
Ashot Nersisian