Author: Frangulian Shushan

Hollywood unites for Beckett tribute

Allison Bray
Friday July 25 2008

‘SEX and the City’ Cynthia Nixon will join other Hollywood A-listers onstage
at The Lincoln Centre in New York this weekend to celebrate the legendary
Irish playwright and poet Samuel Beckett.
The award-winning actress, best known for her role as the feisty lawyer
Miranda Hobbs in the hit TV series, has been working with The Gate Theatre’s
Michael Colgan to prepare for a series of readings from Beckett’s poetry and
prose.
The former Broadway actress is a huge fan of the playwright and is "looking
forward to bringing her own interpretation and knowledge of Beckett to the
readings," said a spokeswoman for The Gate Theatre in Dublin.
Irish-born star Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, along with renowned Irish
stage actor Barry McGovern and Julianne Moore will also join her onstage for
readings on Saturday and Sunday as part of the The Gate’s ‘Beckett Season’,
which winds up on Sunday.
Liam Neeson wowed the New York critics at the festival with his lead role in
Canadian film director Atom Egoyan’s production of ‘Eh Joe’.

©Independent.ie

WATER PROBLEM IN KHARBERD

Panorama.am
21:49 24/07/2008

The citizens of Nor Kharberd rural community in Ararat region have
serious problems with drinking water. Every morning they have to get
prepared all pots to get some water in thirty minutes. Note that the
local people use drinking water to prepare some food and to drink,
for other domestic activities, as washing and having bath they use
non drinking water.

Although the local people complain they don’t have drinking water,
they see the "water man" very often who fixes the data on the water
measure machine. Note that people of Nor Kharberd don’t know quite
sure who serves water, "Yerevan Water" or…?

14 COMMERCIAL BANKS OF ARMENIA ENTERED LIST OF COUNTRY’S 300 TAX PAYERS IN FIRST HALF YEAR, 2008

ArmInfo
2008-07-25 15:01:00

Upon the results of the first half year, 2008, 14 commercial banks
of Armenia entered the list of 300 biggest tax-payers of the country.

By the data of RA State Tax Service, Ardshininvestbank has become the
first in this list by the size of the paid taxes over the first half
year, 2008.

The bank took the 19th place among the first hundred tax payers having
paid total of 1.414 bln drams, 1.355 bln drams of which are profit
tax and income tax. It is followed by ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank:
it took the 24th place among the first hundred tax payers having
paid 1.329 bln drams, 1.307 bln drams of which – profit tax and
income tax. "HSBC Bank Armenia" replenished the state budget over
the first half year by 1.196 bln drams, including 1.057 bln drams –
profit tax and income tax, so, the bank took the 27th place. This
bank is followed by Armeconombank which took the 74th place having
paid 501.4 mln drams, 475.8 mln drams of which – profit tax and
income tax. ‘Converse Bank’ took the 87th place having replenished
the state budget by 391.7 mln drams, 378.4 mln drams of which –
profit tax and income tax. Armbusinessbank took the 98th place,
as the paid taxes in the first half year, 2008, made up 342.6 mln
drams, including 333.2 mln drams – profit tax and income tax. ‘VTB
Armenia’ Bank took the 116th place in the list of 300 biggest tax-
payers of Armenia having paid 298.3 mln drams to the state budget,
226.1 mln drams of which fell on the profit tax and income tax.

Unibank has occupied the 128-th place paying 278.3 mln drams to the
state budget, including 262.5 mln drams – profits tax and income
tax. INECOBANK has occupied the 146- th place in the list, having
paid 249.1 mln drams to the state budget, including 233.3 mln drams –
profits tax and income tax.

Bank Anelik has occupied the 193-th place having paid 178.8 mln
drams, including 171 mln – profits tax and income tax. ARARATBANK paid
138.3 mln drams to the state budget over the first half-year of 2008,
including 126.5 mln drams – profits tax and income tax, and occupied
the 246-th place in the list.

Armswissbank have occupied the 251-th place in the list, having paid
136.6 mln drams to the state budget, including 131.7 mln drams –
profits tax and income tax. Prometei bank occupied the 264 th place
having paid 130.5 drams taxes to the state budget, including 125
mln drams – profits tax and income tax. Armenian Development Bank
concludes that list occupying the 271 st place, having paid to the
state budget 125.2 mln drams taxes over the first half-year of 2008,
including 108.4 mln drams – profits tax and income tax.

To note, according to the results of 2007, seven Armenian banks
entered the list of the first 100 tax payers of Armenia, including
"HSBC Bank Armenia", ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank, Ardshininvestbank,
Armeconombank, bank ‘VTB Armenia’, INECOBANK and Unibank. At present
22 commercial banks function in Armenia.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO SERVE AS HONORARY CHAIRS OF ANC-WR 2008 BANQUET

armradio.am
23.07.2008 16:38

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) reports that
a number of prominent Legislators and Armenian American Officials will
be serving as Honorary Chairs for the ANC-WR 24th Annual Banquet. The
ANC-WR’s Annual Banquet will be held on October 12, 2008, at the
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Members of Congress serving as Honorary Chairs for the ANC-WR Annual
Banquet include Representatives Adam Schiff, George Radanovich, Ed
Royce and Jackie Speier. Honorary Chairs also include State Senator
Jack Scott, Assemblymembers Anthony Portantino and Paul Krekorian and
Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug and Janice Kamenir-Reznik of Jewish World Watch.

Furthermore, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America Moushegh Mardirossian will serve as an Honorary
Chair.

"With great pride, I share in the efforts of the 2008 ANC-WR Annual
Banquet to highlight the great strides and accomplishments of the
Western Region," said Archbishop Mardirossian. "The ANC-WR offers
a gateway to activism through a wide variety of public programs and
grassroots efforts," he added.

Congressman Adam Schiff has provided strong leadership on issues
of concern to Armenian Americans. Representative Schiff introduced
H. Res. 106 [the Armenian Genocide Resolution] on January 30, 2007. The
bill was passed with a vote of 27-21 in the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs. It now awaits a full House vote.

Congressman George Radanovich played a key role in 2000 when an
Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.R. 398, nearly reached a floor vote
but was pulled off at the last minute due to pressure from the Clinton
Administration.

Congressman Radanovich is the co-author with Congressman Adam Schiff
of H.

Res. 106 and has remained steadfast in his support of Armenian
American issues.

Congressman Ed Royce has been a long time advocate for human rights
and member of the Armenian Caucus. Rep. Royce has been a leading
cosponsor of Armenian Genocide legislation throughout his years in
Congress. In addition to cosponsoring the Genocide bill, Congressman
Royce regularly participates in Armenian community events within
his district. In 2005, the Orange County ANC awarded Rep. Royce the
prestigious "Freedom Award."

Armenian American Jackie Kanchelian Speier was elected to Congress
on April 8, 2008. Speier has been active on Armenian American issues
throughout her years in the California state legislature. During
her tenure in Sacramento, she authored 16 bills related to Armenian
issues. Every year thereafter, she co-sponsored the resolution
commemorating the Armenian Genocide, including the 2005 bill that
made the commemoration permanent law.

"The ANC-WR is honored that Members of Congress will be serving as
Honorary Chairs for our banquet," commented ANC-WR Board Member Aida
Dimejian. "We look forward to the success of this year’s banquet due
in large part to the support from our friends in the U.S. House of
Representatives," she added.

Individuals interested in attending the ANC-Western Region banquet
are encouraged to contact ANC-WR Program Coordinator Teresa Petrosyan
at (818) 500-1918. The banquet is slated to begin at 3:30 pm with a
cocktail hour and the formal program beginning at 5:30 pm. Organizers
of this event expect that it will be sold out well before September
15th.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization
in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network
of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United
States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR
advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

LEVON ZURABIAN: PEOPLE HAS NOTHING ELSE TO DO BUT RAISE WAVE OF PROTEST TO RESTORE ITS VIOLATED RIGHTS

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 23

"The Armenian authorities have no aim to restore democracy in the
country, they show deep neglect to Council of Europe demands," Levon
Zurabian, a representative of the People’s Movement, stated at the
July 23 press conference. In his words, in the formed situation the
Armenian people has nothing else to do but raise a strong wave of
protest and resistance to restore its violated rights. According to L.

Zurabian, radical opposition’s regular rally will be held on August
1, and the agenda of issues to be discussed at it will depend on
the response the authorities will give before the rally to People’s
Movement’s proposals to overcome the home political crisis.

L. Zurabian said that lately Yerevan Mayor’s Office has declined
PM’s application to hold a rally on August 1 in Liberty Square or
near Matenadaran. Mayor’s Office representative Gagik Baghdasarian
has told Artak Zeynalian, a member of the Hanrapetutiun (Republic)
party’s Political Board, that the rally will be authorized if only the
organizers refrain from organizing a march. "In fact, the authorities
are afraid of a march, and their only task is to prevent our march,"
the PM representative said adding that the August 1 rally without
fail will be followed by a march by Yerevan central streets.

In response to the statements of power representatives that the
sit-down strike going on in Northern Avenue for already 19 days
hinders work of shops in that territory, L. Zurabian said: "It is
not of our own free will that we have appeared in Northern Avenue:
wre have been driven away there from Liberty Square."

KARABAKH’S FOREIGN MINISTRY IS 15 YEARS OLD

ARKA
July 23

Foreign policy has always been a priority of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, NKR President Bako Sahakyan’s letter of congratulation
addressed to the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the department’s
15th anniversary reads.

"NKR international recognition, defence of the people’s interests in
international organizations, and peaceful settlement of the conflict
– these are the problems that NKR authorities are to address first,"
the presidential press office quoted the president as saying.

Sahakyan said to address these problems efficiently all Armenians
must consolidate their efforts, deeper cooperation with the Foreign
Ministry of Armenia and Diaspora must be established with a special
focus on economic cooperation issues.

Bako Sahakyan said he does not doubt the fact that NKR Foreign Ministry
has the potential to solve the problems it faces. He also emphasized
the significance of the department for the country and the people
which must motivate each of the department employee to work with
greater responsibility and professionalism. N.H.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
San Francisco – Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617

REP . BERMAN REITERATES SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN ISSUES
02008.htm

Tiburon, CA, July 20, 2008 – Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, told an audience at a fundraiser for
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) that the United States should press Turkey for
accountability regarding the Armenian Genocide. Berman said he wanted
the U.S. to have good relationship with Turkey, but that the U.S. should
lead Turkey in recognizing the history of the Armenian Genocide. "It’s
part of what friends do," Berman said.

In an earlier discussion with Bay Area ANC representatives, Berman said,
"I’m from a background where you don’t brush things under the rug. You
deal with them and move on."

Berman, who recently met with Armenia’s Foreign Minister, said the U.S.
also should do more to help end the Turkish blockade of Armenia, which
cuts off a major avenue for manufactured goods to reach Armenia through
Turkey. The result is not good for the U.S., he said. "We’re pushing a
friend into the hands of Russia and Iran."

Berman is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and a
co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. As Chair of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, he recently held a hearing questioning
administration officials about U.S. policies towards the Caucasus
region, including Turkey’s blockade of Armenia.

Rep. Woolsey and Rep. Berman spoke about their work on the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, seeking to broaden U.S. assistance programs to
Africa, as well as improve US policy towards Iraq, Iran, and the rest of
the Middle East.

"Our committee will have an effective, balanced, progressive, coherent
approach," Berman said, who said he believed the U.S. cannot be
effective around the world when its policies produce world-wide hatred
and violate international law.

This month, President Bush signed into law a measure by Rep. Berman
eliminating a government-imposed stigma against association with the
African National Congress of South Africa. As a result, the United
States will remove from its databases any notation characterizing the
ANC and its leaders — including Nobel Laureate and former South African
President Nelson Mandela — as terrorists.

Berman has also recently introduced legislation devoting more high-level
attention and funding to the plight of Iraqi refugees, as well as a bill
calling on the government `to strengthen its leadership role’ in
response to the genocide in Darfur and urging the departments of State
and Homeland Security to facilitate the resettlement in the U.S. of
Darfuri refugees.

Berman was a member of the California State Assembly from 1973 to 1982,
when he was elected to Congress representing parts of the San Fernando
Valley in the Los Angeles area.

######

Picture Captions:
– (left to right) Bay Area ANC member Ara Makasdjian, Rep. Howard
Berman, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, and Bay Area ANC Chairperson, Roxanne Makasdjian
– Rep. Howard Berman

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT VIEWS HIS 100 DAYS IN OFFICE AS BEGINNING OF HARD WORK

ARKA
July 21

Armenian President Serge Sargsyan views his 100 days in office as
the beginning of a huge and hard work.

He said that the reformation in the country started from the important
areas pointed out in his election program.

"These processes will be widening and the results will become visible
only a few years later. The results must be satisfactory for public,
not for me. Positive reaction has already been received", the head
of state said at a press conference on Monday.

He put a special emphasis on reforms being implemented in tax and
customs sectors.

Sargsyan said these sectors are waiting for the second-breed reforms.

He said that if many are satisfied with the results of his work,
it won’t mean that he can take a deep breath – he will still have
plenty to do.

JOS STELLING: THROUGH GOLDEN APRICOT ARMENIAN FILM-LOVERS GET ACQUAINTED WITH BEST PIECES OF WORLD CINEMATOGRAPHY

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 18

The Golden Apricot (Voske Tsiran) International Film Festival has
already become dear for Dutch director Jos Stelling: "I love both
the city and its dwellers and that wonderful fruit, by the name of
which this as much wonderful festival is called," the director said
at the July 18 meeting with journalists. The Dutch director is among
festival’s honorary guests and presented his Dushka full-length film
shot in 2007 to Armenian spectators.

According to Jos Stelling, Golden Apricot is an important festival
for Armenia, as through that festival a film-lover is able to
get acquainted with both modern and classical best pieces of world
cinematography. "The whole world is filled with low-value and tasteless
films. There are studios that try to produce them especially for
sale. However, there are other films that are created with a great
difficulty, but become real films and live forever," the renowned
director said.

"My films are about loneliness, and if you unite them, they will become
one film consisting of different parts. I never shoot my films from
aside: I always stand between an actor and the video camera. And it is
that "between" which becomes a real film and has a new thing to say,"
Jos Stelling said.

According to the director, world cinematography, of course, develops,
but it is not connected with existence of Internet or DVD: "all the
same, they only give light, but cinematography is another thing,
it is a window."

BAKU THINKS ARMENIA IS REAL TRANSGRESSOR OF CFE TREATY

Interfax News Agency
July 16 2008
Russia

By stating that Azerbaijan violates the Conventional Armed Forces in
Europe (CFE) Treaty, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian once
again shows biased attitudes, spokesman of the Azeri Foreign Ministry
Khazar Ibragim said.

This is another attempt to delude the international community. The
real picture is absolutely different: it is Armenia that breaches
the CFE Treaty, Ibragim told Interfax.

Armenia many times exceeds its national conventional arms ceilings
provided by the treaty, he said.

Thus, the fact that Armenia deployed its armored units on the occupied
territories is also the violation of Azerbaijan’s territorial
ceilings. In other words, Azerbaijan’s territorial ceilings are
violated, but it is Armenia that makes them violated. And as it can
be objectively seen in both cases, Armenia is a violator. That is
why it would be good if Mr. Nalbandian make this truth known to the
international community, Ibragim said.

Earlier, Nalbandian accused Azerbaijan of violating international
agreements on conventional arms at a meeting with co-chairman of the
U.S. Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Joe Knollenberg.