CINEMA: LOVE AND DESTINY ON HIGH SEAS
Gerald Chuah
New Straits Times, Malaysia
Aug. 31, 2006
BRIDES
Directed by Pantelis Voulgaris
Starring Damian Lewis, Victoria Haralabidou, Andrea Ferreol, Evi
Saoulidou, Steven Berkoff, Dimitris
NOTHING works as well as a good old-fashioned love story. Brides is
an epic romance story shot on board a ship but this is no Titanic.
Its merits are stark realism and good acting, and the film is devoid
of Hollywood special effects.
The film should have been renamed Mail Order Bride as this is its
main theme.
Set in 1922, the movie depicts the story of 700 mail order brides
from Greece, Turkey, Russia and Armenia travelling on the SS King
Alexander to United States to meet prospective husbands.
Some see it as an opportunity to start a brand new life, while others
are bound by familial duties. Most feel lost, depressed and homesick
as they have to leave the comfort of their homes and family to marry
a stranger.
Although Brides is a new film, it looks as if it was taken from some
archives. The colours are muted and the story is slow-moving and a
bit depressing.
However, the film abounds with great dialogue and acting.
The shots of the brides are almost haunting as their future looms
with excitement and apprehension.
This excellent filmmaking technique brings out the best in this
epic drama.
The main characters are American photographer Norman Harris (Damien
Lewis) and Greek seamstress Niki (Victoria Haralabidou).
Harris is returning home after roaming Asia Minor for several years.
He is frustrated and despondent after his latest wartime photos are
rejected by the American newspaper he’s working for.
He is inspired to photograph the mail order brides in their bridal
attire after observing them from the deck.
He falls in love with demure seamstress Niki, who is bound for Chicago
to marry a tailor named Prodromos.
Their brief relationship culminates with a heart-rending decision
upon their arrival in America.
No movie is complete without the bad guy and here, it is a Russian
(played by Steven Berkoff) who lures some of the young girls away to
be his potential “business partners”.
The movie captures the epic and emotional journey with attention to
detail, including costumes and the ship’s various quarters.
The atmosphere is moody and sensual, reminiscent of the era.
Ultimately, the film is about strong emotions, dilemmas and conscience.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IT IS A COVER-UP, SAYS PARTY
By Ben Agina
Standard, Kenya
Aug. 31, 2006
Orange Democratic Movement of Kenya party luminary, Mr Raila Odinga
(right), reads a statement on the recently released Kiruki Commission
report at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on Wednesday. Picture by
Tabitha Otwori
The Orange Democratic Movement has cried foul over the Kiruki Report,
branding it a “cover-up” as the Government again found itself on the
receiving end over its handling of the Artur brothers saga.
The party described the outcome of the investigation as a brazen
attempt at cleansing, then reinstating, pro-Government officers caught
up in the fiasco.
“It has to be stated from the onset that the report, as claimed to
have been extracted by (a local daily) is an attempt at a political
cleansing process and eliminates all faith we may have had in the
commission outcomes, in getting to the bottom of this most bizarre
case of national insecurity,” they said in a statement read at a
press conference in Nairobi.
Overall, they said, the commissioners did not only bungle the probe,
they also wandered outside their mandate and served as instruments
to conceal the truth.
They roundly dismissed the commission, chaired by former Police
Commissioner Mr Shedrach Kiruki, as a public relations exercise gone
awry and a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.
Favourable slant
The MPs also took issue with the manner in which the report had been
“selectively” leaked to the Press. They claimed this could be part
of a wider scheme to water down the commission’s findings by giving
the report a “favourable slant”.
The attack came less than 48-hours after the report on the bogus
Armenian brothers Artur Sargasyan and Artur Margaryan was handed over
to President Kibaki at State House, Nairobi.
On Wednesday, ODM-Kenya said the report was a “cover-up” and an attempt
to absolve suspended Criminal Investigations Department Director, Mr
Joseph Kamau, from blame in an affair that compromised State security.
ODM-Kenya said it confirmed fears and reservations of most people
about the commission. Addressing the Press at Parliament Buildings,
Nominated MP Mr Mutula Kilonzo – who led a team of ODM-Kenya leaders
that included MPs Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Mr Raila Odinga, Mr William
Ruto, Mrs Julia Ojiambo and Mr Henry Kosgey – said the commission
deliberately omitted summoning key witnesses such as Kamau to testify.
He said the evidence adduced at the inquiry pointed to the complicity
of the suspended CID boss and his department.
Political cleansing
The report, Mutula noted, had not only absolved Kamau from blame,
it also recommended his reinstatement.
“This case is bound to consume both those who engineered the coming
of the Arturs and those who continue to cover up,” he warned.
The ODM leaders charged that the Commissioner of Police had every right
under the Police Act to appoint whomever he pleased to investigate
claims that the Arturs were mercenaries hired by the Government to
assassinate ODM leaders.
The commissioner, they said, acted the way he did because he had lost
faith in the ability of Kamau to investigate the matter.
They said the report – whose excerpts were carried by a local daily –
was an attempt at political cleansing and banished any hope Kenyans
had that the commission would get to the bottom of the bizarre case.
They said the commission was a mere public relations exercise aimed at
“whitewashing of the devil”, adding Kenyans were too intelligent to
be hoodwinked into believing the ruse.
“The Government, and particularly the Executive, must now own up and
deal with issues relating to the over-looking of the Interpol warnings
as attested to by police witnesses,” said Mutula.
Criminal activities
The ODM leadership warned the report would neither deter nor cow
Kenyans from insisting on the principle of good governance that calls
upon those mentioned in the Arturs case to resign and allow for “real”
investigations by an independent body.
Reading from a book titled, Patriots and Profiteers by R T Naylor,
published in 1999, Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga said the Arturs had been
mentioned as international criminals.
“These are known international criminals. Interpol gave the Kenya
police the same information when they sought their help,” the MP said.
Raila said the Government had information about the criminal activities
of the Arturs yet Internal Security minister Mr John Michuki defended
them in Parliament as investors.
Raila said that instead of the minister arresting the duo, he
deported them to defeat investigation. The former Roads minister
said the information on the Artur brothers was given to Mr Kamau,
who failed to act on it.
He claimed the suspended CID boss had on several occasions visited
the home of the Arturs in Runda and yet he was not summoned to give
evidence.
He wondered why the commission was now shifting the blame to the
Police Commissioner.
“Kamau is the suspect. He was the one covering up for the Artur
brothers,” claimed Raila.
False information
Raila said it was for the same reason that he gave the information
to the Police Commissioner, who in turn referred him to Kilimani
Police Station.
“It was in the wisdom of the Commissioner of Police that the matter be
investigated by another officer other than the CID boss,” said Raila.
Raila wondered why Kamau, Musyoka and himself were not summoned to
the commission.
“The truth of this Arturs saga is known up to State House,” he said.
Raila said it was time the President owned up and sacked Michuki for
“giving false information to the public”.
On his part, Kalonzo said the Government had treated Kenyans to an
unforgivable circus.
“Our worst fears about the Arturs have now been confirmed,” said
Kalonzo, adding that even a child knew very well that a Government
could not investigate itself because it was involved in this saga.
The MP said it was imperative for the commission to have interrogated
Kamau.
“There is an attempt to sanitise him”.
Kalonzo urged Kenyans to stand up and demand the truth, claiming the
Arturs were trained assassins.
He disclosed that he had briefed a recent African Union meeting about
the Armenians’ activities.
“As the African Union, we agreed that any assassination attempt on
the ODM figures was to be blamed on the Government,” said Kalonzo.

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF ACTIVE OSCE CHAIRMAN ACTS WITH PRO-ARMENIAN POSITION – MEMBER OF AZERI DELEGATION IN OSCE PA
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 31, 2006
The personal representative of the active OSCE chairman Andzey Kasprzyk
acts with pro-Armenian position, the member of Azerbaijani delegation
in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, chairman of the permanent agrarian
policy commission of Azerbaijani Parliament on Eldar Ibrahimov told
Trend , commenting on the statement of Kasprzyk regarding attracting
international experts who will investigate the reasons of fires in
Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and negotiations process held by
the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group.
Kasprzyk noted that talks are being held with Azerbaijani and Armenian
foreign ministers. He stressed that the expert group should prepare an
action plan that should reflect the reasons for the fires, inflicted
damages and measures form preventing the firers in the future.
Ibrahimov spelled out that it may be accepted if the group includes
fair people who gave an accurate assessment to the incidents. “If
the expert group, as Andzey Kasprzyk, confirms that the fires
happened due to hot weather conditions, then the activity of the
group isn’t needed,” he emphasized, adding that Kasprzyk takes a
pro-Armenian position. “Fires may happen from hot weather in the
occupied territories, but why don’t the fires happen in the territories
located 100 meters from occupied territories?” he questioned.
Besides, the deputy underlined that the head of Armenian delegation
in OSCE PA told him that the fires took place due to drought and hot.
“I answered him that Yerevan is the most droughty city. If it is
the reason for fires, then Yerevan had to burn long ago,” Ibrahimov
pointed out, adding that he doesn’t accept the position of Kasprzyk
in this issue.

ARMENIAN SIDE SAYS NO MEETING SCHEDULED BETWEEN AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS BY THE END OF 2006
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug. 31, 2006
There is no agreement on a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents, but the possibility it will occur has not been completely
ruled out, Viktor Sogomonian, a press officer of the Armenian President
said at today’s press conference.
He said it is too early to say “that all possibilities” for the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been
exhausted, because this year is not over yet. He recalled a statement
made by Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian in Slovenia that
Armenia welcomes constructive dialogue based on the real situation.
“Sooner or later everybody will have to take into account the real
situation, including the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s independence.”
He added that in June 2006 Matthew Bryza, U.S. co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, made public some points of the conflict settlement
document drafted by the co-chairmen, which gave rise to various
comments. The Armenian side is ready to make public all documents
ever discussed at the negotiations and then everybody will see and
know who and what was offered and who is ready to exchange or cede.
“I believe this will happen sooner or later,” said Sogomonian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMBASSADOR: ITALY IS INTERESTED IN RESTORING ARMENIAN MONUMENTS
Regnum, Russia
Aug. 30, 2006
>From August 30 to September 16, an International Conference Archaeology
and Monuments’ Restoration is being held in Armenia with the help of
the Italian government.
As a REGNUM correspondent reports, Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente
has said in his opening address that the Italian government attaches
much significance to the Armenian-Italian cooperation. “Italy is
interested in restoring and preserving Armenian monuments, first,
because Armenia is rich with architectural hits, second, the vast
experience of Italian specialists will help Armenian colleagues in
preserving architectural monuments. The Italian government is sure
that architecture is one of priority spheres of the Armenia-Italian
cooperation,” the ambassador announced adding that Armenia’s oil is
human resources – professionals, experts in culture.
In his turn, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs
Gagik Gyurjyan noted that for Armenian colleagues, experience of Italy
in methods of restoring wall painting is very important. “Italy is
rich in monumental heritage, and its specialists in architecture have
no match,” he said.
The Archaeology and Monuments’ Restoration panel is organized by
Armenia’s Ministry for Culture and Youth Affairs, Italian Embassy
to Armenia, the Center for Studying and Ratifying the Armenian
Culture, historical department of Yerevan State University. Leading
archaeologists, restores, architects, designers, experts in restoring
wall paintings participate in it. The Italian government granted
30,000 euro to hold the event.

ARMENIA TO START PRODUCING MOZZARELLA AND MOZZARELLA-PIZZA ITALIAN CHEESE IN SEPTEMBER
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 30, 2006
YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Armenia is to start producing Mozzarella
and Mozzarella-pizza Italian cheese in September 2006.
Ashot Tamrazyan, director of Dili farm, told journalists on Wednesday
that the farm also intends to start producing some kinds of Armenian
cheese.
In his words, the farm’s key aim is to produce a pure cheese up to
bio-standards through.
Tamrazyan also said that the farm is going to produce
up-to-European-standards milk. Milk output is planned to reach 3
thousand liters a day.
120 German pedigree cows and German and Italian milk-processing
equipment will make it possible to retain the same output throughout
entire year and will ensure high quality of the milk and dairy.
Tamrazyan also added that 42 million invested in the farm by founders
with assistance of some European banks, laid necessary financial ground
for creating 50 jobs with average salary of AMD 50 thousand ($128).
Dili farm is set up in Dilijan, Armenia, in mid-2005.

DILI FARM DIRECTOR: ARMENIAN DAIRY MARKET UNDERDEVELOPED
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 30, 2006
YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Armenian dairy market is underdeveloped,
Ashot Tamrazyan, Dili farm director, said Wednesday at a press
conference in Yerevan.
In his words, import makes 45% of the products consumed in the country.
He views it necessary to develop local dairy industry.
Tamrazyan thinks proper equipment and conditions are needed for
producing high-quality dairy.
He said the farm intended to start producing Mozzarella and
Mozzarella-pizza Italian cheese and some kind of Armenian cheese in
mid-September.

ARMENIAN BANKS BUY CONTROLLING SHARE IN EQUITY OF ACRA CREDIT
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 30, 2006
YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Over 52% of ACRA credit bureau’s shares
belong to Armenian commercial banks today.
ACRA Credit Reporting CJSC told ARKA News Agency on Wednesday that as
a result of lengthy negotiations, 11 Armenian commercial banks – ACBA,
Anelik Bank, ArmSwissBank, Armenian Development Bank, Artsakhbank,
BTA InvestBank, HSBC Bank Armenia, InecoBank, Melat Bank, Prometei
Bank and VTB Bank-Armenia – jointly have bought 50.1% of shares in
equity AQCRA Credit reporting CJSC.
Earlier Converse Bank (in June 2005) and ArmEconomBank (in May 2006)
became shareholders of ACRA each owning 1% of ACRA’s equity.
ACRA credit bureau was set up in 2004 by the U.S. Credential Inc.and
with the assistance and involvement of Dun&BradStreet Inc.
As of today, 14 of 21 Armenian banks, i.e. the banks representing
76% of banking assets and 75% of all the loans in banking sector,
have become either ACRA’s shareholders or its members.
Besides, 9 largest credit organizations – Aregak, Finka, First
Mortgage Company, Cascade Credit, Horizon, Kamurj, SEF International,
Shen Aniv and Washington Capital – working in Armenia are also the
members of ACRA.
According to preliminary agreement with the Central Bank of Armenia
and Union of Banks of Armenia, it is expected that the Central Bank
will become one of the largest shareholders of ACRA soon.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SEEKS NO MEMBERSHIP IN POLITICAL PARTIES
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 30, 2006
YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA – Novosti-Armenia/. Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan seeks no membership in political parties, presidential
spokesman Victor Soghomonyan said Wednesday at a press conference
in Yerevan.
In his words, the president has never wanted to join any party.
Soghomonyan also said he would remain non-partisan as well. He said
presidential staff will do the same.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO TRAVEL TO GERMANY, KAZAKHSTAN SOON
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 30, 2006
YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is to
travel to Germany and Kazakhstan before the end of 2006 for routine
visits, Victor Soghomonyan, presidential spokesman, told journalists
on Wednesday.
He said the head of state would also attend CIS summit in Minsk.
In his words, prospects for French, Romanian and Slovenian presidents’
visits to Armenia are under discussion now.
Commenting on French president’s upcoming visit to Armenia, Soghomonyan
said it will give a new impetus to bilateral relations development.
He added, however, that the information given to the media is
preliminary.