Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

PRESS RELEASE
Date: July 13, 2007
Armenian National Committee of Albany
6 Grace St., Albany, NY 12205
Contact: Antranig Karageozian
Tel:518-331-8559

REP. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY-20) COSPONSORS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Sarasota Springs, NY- The Armenian National Committee of Albany
welcomed the addition of Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY-20) as the
latest cosponsor of H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution..
The number of cosponsors for this key human rights legislation has
now grown to 220.

"We are very grateful for the Congresswoman’s support of H. Res.
106. Having an opportunity to meet with Darius Shahinfar, Regional
Representative for Rep. Gillibrand in Sarasota Springs a few weeks
prior, we look forward to continuing to work with both the district
office and the Washington office to build a growing relationship
with the Congresswoman," commented Antranig Karageozian, Chairman
of the ANC of Albany.

Gillibrand joins nineteen other New York Representatives, as well
as over two-dozen of her freshman colleagues that have signed on to
the legislation. Sworn into office this past January, Gillibrand
represents the 20th District of New York State, which stretches
across Saratoga, Dutchess, Columbia, Rensselaer, Washington,
Warren, Delaware, Greene, Essex and Otsego counties. She currently
serves on the Armed Services Committee as well as the Agriculture
Committee

"I am pleased to add my name to the list of cosponsors of the
Armenian Genocide bill, H. Res. 106," said Rep. Gillibrand. "By
acknowledging the truth and horror of the Armenian Genocide
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, the US will demonstrate its
continued commitment, to addressing and taking action to prevent
the horror of genocide in other parts of the world such as Sudan."

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

####
Photo:
Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY-20)

REVIEW

Wall Street trader creates havoc and profits, then falls in love

Michael Leone, San Francisco Chronicle

Monday, June 18, 2007
Das Kapital
By Viken Berberian
SIMON & SCHUSTER; 175 Pages; $23

_____

No, this isn’t a new translation of Marx’s obtuse and history-altering
tome, but a slim, impeccably cool new novel by Viken Berberian, author
of the novel "The Cyclist." In his new novel, Berberian juxtaposes the
cold, profit-driven trading environment of Wall Street, with the lush
antiquated calm of Marseille, France. Wayne, the protagonist, is a
trader on Wall Street. Think of Gordon Gecko, or that prattling
TV-personality doofus Jim Cramer. Obsessed by money and all things
material (he eats quail egg omelets with Petrossian caviar), Wayne,
however, is craftier than either Gecko or Cramer. He scorns the
investment community, considering it naive and presumptuous. A
defeatist, or "pragmatic realist," he prefers "to make money from
disaster."

Following Marx’s credo that the capitalist economy is ever on the
brink of extinction, Wayne creates his own market conditions. He hires
a mysterious Corsican terrorist to assassinate world leaders and
create havoc in various world economies and cultures, then bets
against the market by selling short on those investments. Confused?
All you really need to know is: It is ludicrous, highly illegal and
impressively hilarious.

When Wayne isn’t trapped in front of his "Gloomberg" terminal, he’s
writing surprisingly sappy e-mails to Alix, who lives in Marseille and
who is also involved with the Corsican terrorist. She is everything
Wayne isn’t: a spiritual, thoughtful architecture student who takes
yoga classes and makes literary and cultural references, and is so
naive to the endlessly throbbing material world that she professes she
doesn’t even know what a BlackBerry is. She reads Kafka and Kundera,
both of whom Wayne dismisses. "[N]either really helps you become a
better trader," Wayne says. "There is absolutely no upside in
literature."

Despite such differences, however, or rather, because of them, Alix
and Wayne find themselves attracted to each other to the point that
they both decide to abandon their electronic cocoon and meet in the
flesh. They do so in New York, and what transpires is a mild and wry
courtship. Wayne says she’s "making [him] see the world in a different
way." Are we to believe Wayne? Is there such a thing as a corporate,
post-modern satire with a heart?

As Wayne and Alix find themselves cavorting in New York City, then
Marseille, the mad Corsican, a former tree cutter, struggles to win
Alix’s affections, all the while rushing around the world to create
dividend-producing disasters.

Berberian is a writer obsessed with his times. "The Cyclist" captured
the sensibility of a young Middle Eastern terrorist fixated on bombs,
women and food. In "Das Kapital," he probes the global lunacy wrought
by 9/11 and the multifaceted nature of corporate culture. His satire
soars to the levels of Don DeLillo and Chuck Palahniuk.

His prose is appropriately impervious, suggesting the cold contours of
the Gloomberg machine: "He looked into the Bloomberg. Everything
became clear again. There were familiar diagrams on his two
screens. Each plotted point was the expression of a just measure. Each
fraction was a clue to a hidden treasure. Each decimal lent dignity to
a perverse pleasure, until a 24k bloc crossed the tape. The bids were
relentless, growing bigger in size." Berberian, who works at a
financial consultancy in Paris, knows a thing or two about how the
global economy works, or rather, how it doesn’t work, and this
knowledge alone makes him a formidable contemporary writer.

As Wayne and Alix become more enamored of each other, the Corsican
terrorist continues Wayne’s bidding: "In the month that followed, many
buildings fell. The first was the vaunted Tokyo Stock Exchange. A
week later the Crystal Palace came crashing down. Then a Range Rover
rigged with explosives destroyed a section of the Fabrik
Huttenstrasse." Wayne’s profits continue to climb — as long as the
world continues to implode. But now that he’s in love, and his world
has suddenly become a transfigured place, how is he to justify his
ruthless exploitation?

"Das Kapital" is an inventive and oddly disturbing novel. The plot is
oblique, its characters hectic and obsessed with all things, but
mostly with trying to live a decent life in a world driven delirious
with greed. The conclusion is startling and strangely, though
quasi-apocalyptic, funny. How Berberian pulls it off is a mystery,
but like all great novelists, he most certainly does.

Michael Leone is a New York critic.

This article appeared on page B – 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle

EU TO START IMPLEMENTING ANOTHER TWO PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA SOON

Noyan Tapan
Jul 10, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. "A transitional stage is underway at
present: the European Union from TACIS program is passing to the New
European Neighborhood program, which gives us more possibilities to
support Armenia and other countries", stated Raul de Luzenberger,
the Charge d’Affaires of the European Commission to the RA, at the
July 10 joint press conference with Serge Smessov, the Ambassador of
France to Armenia.

He said that the European Union closely cooperates with the Armenian
government within the framework of the New Neighborhood program. Raul
de Luzenberger evaluated the RA government’s position as open and
efficient.

S. Smessov said that two programs regarding Armenia will be approved
by the respective structures of the EU in the coming days. The
Ambassador mentioned that the first program, for the implementation
of which 21m euros will be allocated, "mainly accentuates retraining
of specialists." The second program regards development of all South
Caucasian countries and includes three spheres, energy, transport,
and environment.

S. Smessov said that the implementation of the above mentioned programs
will have positive significance in Armenia’s further development.

SIX SPORTSMEN OF ARMENIA TAKE PART IN EUROPEAN YOUTH BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Jul 10, 2007

BELGRADE, JULY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Youth Boxing Championship, in
which six sportsmen of Armenia are taking part, started in Belgrad on July
9. Ara Puluzian (60kg, Etchmiadzin) had a victory in the start. Mikayel
Ohanian (64kg Vanadzor) was defeated in the first duel and did not qualify.

U.S. GOVERNMENT IS AGAINST MILITARY OPERATIONS BY TURKEY IN IRAQ

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.07.2007 15:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. government is against any one-sided
military operations by Turkey in Iraq, OSCE American Co-Chair,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Matthew Bryza stated in an interview to the PanARMENIAN.Net. He said,
Washington acknowledges the terror threat to Turkey from the Workers’
Party of Kurdistan (PKK) and Ankara’s right to self-defense. "We are
sure that Turkey, Iraq and the USA need to cooperate with each in
other to eliminate the terror threat from PKK, and we have appointed
General Joseph Ralston as a Special Envoy from the United States to
solve that problem," he underscored.

CINCINNATIAN ARRESTED IN IOWA
By David Pitt

Associated Press
Cincinnati Post, OH
July 7 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Cincinnati man arrested outside a hotel where
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his family were
staying was charged Thursday with carrying a weapon and driving
without a license.

Davit Zakaryan, 24, appeared in Wapello County District Court and
remained in jail on a $6,825 bond.

Zakaryan never made a threat against Obama, police said. Cincinnati
businessman David Krikorian said Zakaryan, accused of possessing an
ornamental knife, was in the area to sell political novelties.

Ottumwa Police Lt. Mike McDonough said members of Obama’s security crew
became suspicious as Zakaryan paced outside his car at a Fairfield
Inn in Ottumwa on Wednesday morning. They thought his car looked
familiar and may have been at another campaign stop.

Police said an ornamental knife with a blade exceeding 8½ inches was
found inside the car. Since the knife was within Zakaryan’s easy reach,
the local prosecutor determined it was a violation of a state law that
makes it illegal to possess a knife with a blade longer than 8 inches,
McDonough said.

Zakaryan was not carrying the knife when he was arrested Wednesday,
McDonough said.

He was arrested after authorities determined he did not have a valid
driver’s license. The car was not registered to him, McDonough said,
and literature in the car indicated an Armenian heritage.

Krikorian said Thursday that Zakaryan was in Ottumwa only to sell decks
of playing cards with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama’s pictures.

Zakaryan bought the cards from Krikorian to sell at campaign events,
Krikorian said. Frequently, peddlers set up near campaign appearances
to sell campaign buttons, T-shirts and other items.

"That’s all the guy was doing," Krikorian said. "He purchased several
of those decks and went out to Iowa with the intent to sell them at
these rallies."

He described Zakaryan as a well-educated physicist who was invited
to the United States to participate in scientific conferences.

–Boundary_(ID_tDKO2zuDdAEOcEN4tUWeD A)–

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PLAYS A GREAT PART IN EUROPEAN FILM PROPAGANDIZING, REPRESENTATIVE OF FRENCH EMBASSY TO ARMENIA THINKS

arminfo
2007-07-06 15:04:00

International Film Festival plays a great part in European film
propagandizing, the French Embassy advisor on culture and cooperation
Annie Monnerie said at the press-conference, Friday.

She particularly mentioned the fact that despite the leading
positions of the "Dream Factory" in the world cinema industry,
the steering committee is opening the doors just for the European
films. "I am sure that the special programme of the Golden Apricot
"Festival in festival" where modern French movies will be presented,
will allow Armenian spectators feel deeply development of our cinema",
– Monnerie said. She also added that totally 10 French films will be
demonstrated at the festival.

For her part, representative of the German Embassy to Armenia Melanie
Moltman expressed hope that the programme "Europe-2006", which will
present German and English films, will raise spectators’ interest in
the European cinema in general. "Unfortunately, if compared with the
American films, German films are not so much popular. For this reason
our participation in the Golden Apricot is of great significance for
us. I hope, this will promote much popularization of German cinema
in Armenia", – she said.

GABRIEL SARGSYAN DEFEATED V. TIKHONOV OF BELARUS

armradio.am
06.07.2007 14:35

Armenian Grand Master Gabriel Sargsyan defeated V. Tikhonov of Belarus.

Gaining five points from seven possible, he is now yielding 0.5 points
to the leaders of the memorial tournament after Nikolay Aratovski
held in the Russian city of Saratov. 5.5 points have been achieved
by A. Evdokimov and A. Devyatkin of Russia, A. Fyodorov of Belarus
and E. Sutovski of Israel.

The Independent (UK)

By Nouritza Matossian and Daniel Howden

Published: 04 July 2007

A small, sweltering courtroom in Istanbul has become the focal point
for an intense examination of Turkey’s democratic freedoms and the
independence of its judiciary.

On trial inside the room yesterday were 14 defendants accused of
involvement in the murder of the campaigning journalist Hrant Dink.
The doors will stay closed to the media, because the person accused of
pulling the trigger in a murder that shook Turkey is a 17-year-old
boy.

Outside, thousands gathered with banners proclaiming solidarity with
the dead Turkish-Armenian writer: "We are all still Hrant Dink"; "We
want to see justice done." Many Turks are convinced that a so-called
"deep state" – a network of state agents or former officials, possibly
with links to organised crime – periodically targets reformists and
other perceived enemies in the name of nationalism.

Yesterday, lawyers representing the Dink family called on the court to
broaden its investigation beyond the current suspects, all from the
northern Turkish city of Trabzon. Already, two of the key suspects,
Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel, claimed they worked for the security
forces, while the alleged teenage gunman, Ogun Samast, has remained
silent during the trial.

To his supporters, Dink was a modern Turkish hero: "He symbolises free
speech," said one supporter. An Armenian orphan who had grown up in
the most deprived conditions, he endured racial discrimination and
fought for the dignity and rights of minorities. He used this platform
to campaign for entry into the EU, friendship between Turks and
Armenians, free speech and a free press. Dink became the target of
thousands of death threats, and was harassed by six charges under the
infamous Article 301 for "insulting Turkishness".

Mr Dink’s lawyers have claimed that senior officials, whose names
should have appeared in court papers, have been withheld and evidence
such as CCTV tapes of the killing have been removed. One of the
suspects, Erhan Tuncel, claimed in court that police intelligence
refused to respond to his warnings that the killing was being planned:
"They did not get in touch with me, saying they were busy."

The trial, which will be resumed in October after initial hearings,
takes place in the shadow of impending elections. The ruling AK party
of the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been attacked by
liberals; and nationalists have attacked the government variously for
inertia in the Dink case, or for pandering to the Armenian minority.

In a moving appeal to the judge, Dink’s widow, Rakel, said: "You are
not of this darkness, please be brave enough to investigate fully so
that the end of the trial will mark a new enlightenment for Turkey. I
forgive those people, but I want the state to clear this case fully
for the future generations."

There was upheaval in court when Kemal Aytac, one of the defendant’s
lawyers, attacked the Dink family with nationalist insults and called
them "traitors". Mr Dink’s daughter, Baydzar, left the courtroom in
tears.

As Orhan Dink, Hrant’s brother, said in his testimony: "We, as the
family of Hrant, never will be winners or losers of this case. The
outcome of this case, instead, will prove whether Turkey will be the
winner or loser."

Dink saw his death coming

Hrant Dink was born in 1954 in south-east Turkey, the former heartland
of Turkish Armenia.

After graduating from university, he ran a bookshop with his brothers.
Then in 1996 he founded Agos (Ploughed Furrow), the weekly magazine
published in Armenian and Turkish, that made him famous.

He became a pivotal figure in Turkey, speaking out about democracy,
human rights and free speech as well as minority rights. But he became
deeply unpopular with Turkey’s so-called "deep state", the secret
alliance of ultra-nationalist bureaucrats, lawyers and criminals, and
his stubborn declarations of Turkish guilt for the Armenian genocide
resulted in frequent persecution.

In October 2005, he was given a six-month sentence for "insulting
Turkishness", a verdict he described as "a bad joke".

He saw his death coming. Days before his assassination he wrote: "For
me, 2007 is likely to be a hard year… Hundreds of threats via phone
calls, emails and letters are pouring down… It is obvious that those
wishing to single me out and render me weak and defenceless have
achieved their goal."

ARKADY GUKASYAN: ARMENIA CAN RECOGNIZE NAGORNO KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE AT ANY MOMENT

Regnum, Russia
July 3 2007

Armenia at any moment can recognize independence of Nagorno
Karabakh, but it will not become solution to the problem, Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Gyukasyan while giving a lecture at the
Russian-Armenian University in Yerevan today. According to him, there
is no such force in Armenia that opposes NKR independence, and if
Yerevan and Stepanakert make a decision, Karabakh will be recognized
as an independent state immediately, a REGNUM correspondent informs.

Arkady Gukasyan informed the students that in 1988, when the Karabakh
movement started, a question of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomy leaving
the Azerbaijani SSR and joining the Armenian SSR was posed. Later,
taking into account the fact that the Soviet Union collapsed and
Karabakh was on the verge of war, it was decided to take the way of
independence. "It was a compromise decision – not to make Karabakh
joining either Armenia or Karabakh. The decision was admissible
for the international community," Arkady Gukasyan said. Besides,
by this decision Stepanakert tried to relieve Armenia of additional
complications and troubles, he noted.

"Why does Ilham Aliyev want to persuade the world that the conflict
is between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but not with Nagorno Karabakh?

Because in Baku there is an illusion that Armenia is aggressor that
occupied Azerbaijani territories. Moreover, Azerbaijan hopes that
the international community would take sanctions," the NKR president
announced.

According to him, if Nagorno Karabakh joins the Armenia-Azerbaijan
format of talks, Baku will become the aggressor from the political
point of view. "Nagorno Karabakh declared independence; as a result of
the war imposed on it by Azerbaijan, it won the fight liberating its
territories and seven then nearby Karabakh areas, so the status quo now
is a result of the Azerbaijani aggression," Arkady Gukasyan concluded.