OREANDA-NEWS. July 16, 2009. A telegram to President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan reads, in part:

“We were deeply saddened to hear the news that citizens of the Republic of Armenia had lost their lives when a passenger plane crashed en route from Tehran to Yerevan.

Please accept our deepest condolences following this tragedy, and pass our words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, and to all the people of Armenia.”

The telegram to President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reads, in part:

“The people of Russia were deeply saddened to learn about the jet crash near Qazvin, ending many lives.

Please accept my deepest condolences in regard to this tragedy, and please give our condolences to the families and friends of the victims in this difficult time of grief.”

The Tu-154 aircraft, belonging to Iran’s Caspian Airlines, was flying from Tehran to Yerevan when it crashed, 100 kilometres from Iranian capital. 168 people were on board.