Los Angeles Times
November 19, 2004 Friday
Home Edition

Movies; REVIEW ;
Life and comedy bloom in the ashes

by Kevin Thomas, Times Staff Writer

Hiner Saleem’s droll comedy “Vodka Lemon” reveals a beguiling gift
for making things happen in a place where nothing much is going on.
It is set in what looks to be the middle of nowhere — a tiny village
in a vast snow-covered valley in rural Armenia. The nearest post
office is in a town a bus ride away. This scattering of rough-hewn
roadside cabins in the deep of winter resembles a near-abandoned
mining town in the Old West.

In a post-Soviet present as harsh as the climate, the inhabitants in
fact feel abandoned themselves. One neighbor remarks that democracy
has given the people freedom, but his friend points out that the
Communists gave them everything else. Now everyone has to pay for
gas, electricity and oil while the community hovers near a bare
subsistence level. Except for a passing shepherd and his flock, no
one seems to be working, nor do there seem to be any job
opportunities whatsoever. Clearly, the younger generation is fleeing
— and much of it has already fled.

That includes one of the sons of Hamo Isko (Romen Avinian), who has
sought a better life in Paris. (Another is off in Samarkand,
Uzbekistan, and the other stays home and drinks.) Hamo is a striking
patriarchal figure, a ruggedly handsome, silver-haired, bearded man
of military bearing; he looks to be a fit 70 or thereabouts. His
service pension is the equivalent of $7 a month, and some of the
film’s rueful humor derives from him selling by the roadside his
three absolutely nonessential possessions: a country-style armoire
with folk art decorations that in many other places would fetch a
fancy sum but yields only $10 for Hamo; an old TV, which may or may
not work; and Hamo’s military camouflage uniform. (The sale of the
armoire to a passing couple triggers a comic sequence worthy of the
classic silent comedians.)

With nothing much to do, Hamo spends a lot of time visiting the
cemetery where his recently deceased wife is buried. He notices that
an attractive woman, Nina (Lala Sarkissian), visits the grave of her
late husband with much frequency. Gradually they take note of each
other. The attraction is mutual, but Hamo is beset by the feeling
that he must be loyal to his wife’s memory, and Nina is overcome even
more strongly by shyness. As Saleem, a long-exiled Iraqi Kurd, wends
his way through amusing incidents and various subplots, he generates
hope that romance may find a way to blossom between two people who
have so little in life outside of, potentially, each other.

“Vodka Lemon” is an appealingly wry little film that is as appetizing
as its title, which is the name of a roadside liquor stand where Nina
works. Saleem, whose fourth film this is, ends on a note of inspired
whimsy that has aptly been compared to a magical image by Marc
Chagall.

*

‘Vodka Lemon’

MPAA rating: Unrated

Times guidelines: Suitable for older children

Romen Avinian…Hamo

Lala Sarkissian…Nina

Ivan Franek…Dilovan

Ruzan Mesropyan…Zine

A New Yorker Films release. Writer-director Hiner Saleem. Producer
Fabrice Guez. Executive producer Michel Loro. Cinematographer
Christophe Pollock. Editor Dora Mantzorou. Music Michel Korb.
Production designer Albert Hamarsh. In Armenian, Russian and Kurdish,
with English subtitles.

Exclusively at the Fairfax Cinemas, 7907 Beverly Blvd. (at Faifax
Avenue), (323) 655-4010; and the One Colorado, 42 Miller Alley (at
Colorado Boulevard), Pasadena, (626) 844-6500.

GRAPHIC: PHOTO: POOR CASH FLOW: Hamo, played by Romen Avinian, tries
to sell his armoire by the road in his post-Soviet Armenia village.
PHOTOGRAPHER: New Yorker Films

PanArmenian News
Nov 19 2004

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS SPOKE ON SENDING ARMENIAN SERVICEMEN TO
IRAQ

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Patronal Echmiadzin hopes that the issue of
sending of the Armenian servicemen to Iraq will receive a solution,
which will take into consideration the concern of Armenians residing
in Arabian states, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II stated
today. He also added that the Armenian Apostolic Church in the person
of the leader of the Iraqi Diocese has already expressed its concern
over the issue. To remind, the probable sending of the Armenian
servicemen to Iraq caused controversial reaction among the Armenian
society. Afraid of response from the direction of the Islamic
extremists hundreds of thousands of Armenians residing in Arabian
states including Iraq speak against the arrival of Armenian officers.
People in Arabian countries also reacted violently to the possible
sending of the Armenian contingent to Iraq. The question is still
awaiting resolution.

PanArmenian News
Nov 19 2004

AMBERD MEDIEVAL FORTRESS TO BE RESTORED IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Government intends to allocate funds
for full restoration of Amberd Medieval fortress – a significant
cultural and historical monument of Armenia. Minister of Economy and
Finance of Armenia Vardan Khachatrian stated it the Armenian National
Assembly today. In 13-14 centuries Amberd has been the residence of
Armenian Proshian (Vachutian) dynasty, which comes from Artsakh
(Karabakh).

PanArmenian News
Nov 18 2004

“YARKHUSHTA” (“MILITARY DANCE”) – PREMIERE OF YOUNG FILM DIRECTOR
HARUTYUNIAN PICTURE HELD IN YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The principal hero of “Yarkhushta” (“Military
Dance”) is Pargev – a volunteer soldier, who got disabled in the
Artsakh (Karabakh) war and continues his struggle after reentering
the peaceful life and comes out undefeated. The press and the country
society has widely responded to the first film of young film director
G. Harutyunian. Pargev, who lost his leg in the liberation war, goes
to the town from his village to phone his daughter, who is in
Holland. On his way he encounters the indifference and often contempt
of people. He is taken for a mendicant in the town. A sexual minority
representative, who had taken the former warrior for a beggar, throws
a coin to him. Pargev’s patience comes to an end and he strikes the
person, who gave him the coin. At a certain moment the film hero
finds himself in despair. Tearfully he asks his daughter by phone to
speak Armenian with her children. The daughter suggests the father to
leave all and to move to Holland. Pargev, who shed his blood for the
country, refuses. He also refuses from a Dutch artificial limb. “You
will even be able to dance military dance yarkhushta,” his daughter
tells him. However Pargev objects, “An Armenian man should dance his
dance on an Armenian prosthetic device on the Armenian land.” In the
final the hero dances yarkhushta – the dance of struggle, remaining
undefeated in the native land. “There is weeping in the film, the
film director says, however it is not a weeping of despair, but a
purifying, sobering weeping. …Pargev is one of those, who did not
give up in the battlefield and his struggle continues.” The film
premiere is also expected to be held in Moscow cinema in Yerevan.

PanArmenian News
Nov 18 2004

ARMENIAN REFUGEES APPEAL TO UN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the period of 1988-1991 over 200 thousand
Armenians residing in Azerbaijan abandoned their homes. In summer
1991, after “The Ring” operation carried out by the Soviet Army with
the participation of the Azeri special forces the inhabitants of
dozens of the Armenians villages bordering with Nagorno Karabakh were
either deported or killed. Most of the deported people found shelter
in Armenia. However, despite this the problem of the Armenian
refugees is often ignored. On November 17 the Shahumian-Getashen
Benevolent Organization sent letters on behalf of the deported
Armenians of the Shahumian and Getashen regions, occupied by
Azerbaijan at present , to the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan
and President of the UN’s 59-th General Assembly, Mr. Jean Ping. The
letters reaffirm the rights of those who were forcibly removed from
their homes in these and other regions and lost all their
possessions, to defend themselves in the appropriate international
organizations. To remind, the Shahumian region of the NKR is situated
to the North of the territories controlled by the Karabakh forces at
present. It has been occupied by the Azeri troops since summer 1992
with the help of bribed Russian generals . The Getashen region is to
the North of Shahumian; its residents were deported and many killed
after the joint operations of the soviet army and Azeri OMON. It
should be also noted that both regions were always mostly
Armenian-inhabited.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
November 19, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES SENATE PASSAGE OF ARMENIA PNTR BILL
President Bush Set to Sign into Law

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America hailed the vote by the
United States Senate today to extend permanent normal trade relations
(PNTR) to Armenia, ending a two year effort by lawmakers supportive of
Armenian issues to enhance trade and investment between the United
States and Armenia. The legislation was enacted as part of a
comprehensive trade measure, known as the Miscellaneous Trade and
Technical Corrections Bill (MTB.)

PNTR status would remove a nearly 30-year-old provision requiring
Armenia and other countries to periodically obtain presidential approval
for continued access to low tariffs. In so doing, it would signal an
upgrade in Armenia’s status as a trading partner and should lead to
additional trade agreements between the United States and Armenia.

“Well aware that a robust economy is critical to Armenia’s future
development, passage of Armenia PNTR was an instrumental part of the
Assembly’s legislative agenda,” said Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “We would like to thank Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) for his steadfast support of Armenia PNTR and
for allowing Senate consideration of this bill. Additionally, we thank
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and it’s
Ranking Member Max Baucus (D-MT) for their active involvement and
support as conferees to resolve differences between the House and Senate
versions of the MTB.”

The House of Representatives, for its part, acted in early October to
grant Armenia PNTR as part of the MTB.

In addition to the heavy involvement of the Senators above, Hovnanian
also commended Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senators Paul
Sarbanes (D-MD) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for introducing the PNTR bill
(S.1557) and thanked the Administration for fully backing its
enactment.

“A key element to congressional action was the Administration’s public
support which was first announced at a pan-Armenian conference held by
the Assembly, AGBU and Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church,” said Hovnanian. “Community members were highly appreciative of
this endorsement.”

Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian saluted the hardworking
activists who played an integral role in the bill’s passage. “The
Assembly commends its nationwide network of grassroots activists and the
Armenian community at large for their efforts in rallying support among
congressional leaders,” said Barsamian. “Without their unwavering
advocacy efforts over the past two years, we would not have achieved
today’s success.”

The Assembly, since January, has been the only Armenian-American
organization working in conjunction with the Ad Hoc Coalition on
Tariffs, a group comprised of industries from almost every state that
stand to benefit from the duty suspensions and other miscellaneous
tariff provisions in the legislation. Last week, the Assembly and the
Coalition successfully encouraged over 65 Senators to sign on to the
Grassley-Baucus letter urging the Senate leadership to take the
necessary procedural steps to ensure that the bill is enacted before the
108th Congress ends.

The next step in the legislative process is for the bill to be enacted
into law by President Bush.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

NR#2004-100

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th Street, NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
November 19, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

CONGRESS ADOPTS KEY U.S.-ARMENIA TRADE PROVISION

Bill Granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status to Armenia
Headed for Presidential Signature

WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate, today, unanimously acted to
permanently normalize trade between the U.S. and Armenia, opening
the door to expanded economic relations, new commercial
opportunities, and the further strengthening of the longstanding
bonds between the American and Armenian peoples, reported the
Armenian National Committee Of America (ANCA). With the House
version of the measure adopted in October, the bill now goes to
President Bush for signature.

This provision, which grants Permanent Normal Trade Relations
(PNTR) status to Armenia, was adopted in the final hours of the of
the Senate lame-duck session as part of the larger bill, H.R.1047 –
the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act. The bill,
which has been held up due to human rights concerns in Laos, was
considered following a Senate vote to avert a filibuster of the
measure.

Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) was the first to
raise the issue of Armenia PNTR in Congress. His legislation,
H.R.528, introduced last year was supported by the Armenian Caucus
and cosponsored by 112 other Members of Congress. A companion bill
was introduced on the Senate side by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
and cosponsored by 21 other Senators. The strong support for these
measures paved the way for their inclusion by members of Congress
negotiating the final version of the larger trade measure.

“The ANCA welcomes the Congressional passage of the Armenia-PNTR
bill and thanks Congressman Knollenberg, Senator McConnell and all
those who played a role in securing its passage,” said Ken
Hachikian, Chairman of the ANCA. “Following Presidential signature
of the measure, we look forward to exploring new opportunities to
further expand the growing U.S.-Armenia economic relationship.”

Over the past two years, the ANCA has worked, in Washington, DC and
in local communities throughout the country to generate bipartisan
support for this trade measure among legislators, including those
serving on key trade subcommittees. Over ten thousand pro-Armenia
activists sent ANCA WebFaxes to Congress, thousands more made phone
calls in support of PNTR, and this important issue was raised in
several hundred Congressional visits, both in District Offices and
the nation’s capital. The sample ANCA WebFax letter for activists
included several reasons to support this legislation, among them:

* Increased U.S.-Armenia trade and investment advances U.S. foreign
policy by strengthening Armenia’s free market economic development
and integration into the world economy.

* Expanded U.S.-Armenia commercial relations will strengthen
bilateral relations and reinforces the enduring friendship between
the American and Armenian peoples.

* Adoption of PNTR for Armenia will help offset – at no cost to
U.S. taxpayers – the devastating impact of the dual Turkish and
Azerbaijani blockades, estimated by the World Bank as costing
Armenia up to a third of its entire GDP (as much as $720 million
annually) and half of its exports.

The Trade Act of 1974 excluded all Soviet countries from having
normal trade relations (NTR) status with the United States. One
particular provision of the Act, known as the Jackson-Vanik
amendment, required the President to deny NTR to those countries
that restricted free emigration. The policy was adopted, in part,
in response to Communist government restrictions on the emigration
of Jews. According to the terms of the Jackson-Vanik amendment,
when the President determines that freedom of emigration rights
have been reinstated in a country, normal trade relations may be
granted. To maintain NTR, the President must report to Congress
twice a year that Jackson-Vanik requirements have been met. While
successive Presidents have waived the Jackson-Vanik Amendment
restrictions on Armenia during the past decade, the passage of the
Knollenberg bill, would grant Armenia permanent normal trade
relations status, without the need for semi-yearly Presidential
determinations.

The text of the Armenia PNTR provision is provided below:

Title II, Section 2001

Subtitle A – Miscellaneous Provisions

SEC. 2001. TERMINATION OF APPLICATION OF TITLE IV OF THE TRADE ACT
OF 1974 TO ARMENIA.

(a) FINDINGS. – Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Armenia has been found to be in full compliance with the
freedom of emigration requirements under title IV of the Trade Act
of 1974.

(2) Armenia acceded to the World Trade Organization on February 5,
2003.

(3) Since declaring its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991,
Armenia has made considerable progress in enacting free-market
reforms.

(4) Armenia has demonstrated a strong desire to build a friendly
and cooperative relationship with the United States and has
concluded many bilateral treaties and agreements with the United
States.

(5) Total United States-Armenia bilateral trade
for 2002 amounted to more than $134,200,000.

(b) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATIONS AND EXTENSIONS OF NONDISCRIMINATORY
TREATMENT.

Notwithstanding any provision of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974
(19 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.), the President may:

(1) determine that such title should no longer apply to Armenia;
and

(2) after making a determination under paragraph (1) with respect
to Armenia, proclaim the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment
(normal trade relations treatment) to the products of that country.

(c) TERMINATION OF APPLICATION OF TITLE IV.

On and after the effective date of the extension under subsection
(b)(2) of nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of Armenia,
title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 shall cease to apply to that
country.

UNINFO.GOV
19 November 2004

Senate Passes Bill Granting Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations
Bill also includes provisions on Laos, dumping law repeal, tariff
suspensions
Washington — The Senate has passed a bill that would make normal trade
relations (NTR) — otherwise known as most-favored nation status —
permanent for Armenia
The bill would also extend NTR to Laos and repeal a 1916 law that was ruled
by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a violation of U.S. obligations.
President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.
The 299-page bill, passed by the House of Representatives October 8,
comprises hundreds of tariff suspensions on imports of goods not produced
domestically and traded in small volumes.
A provision of the bill would grant permanent NTR for Armenia, which has had
temporary NTR, approved year-to-year by the president.
“I hope that we will be able to consider similar treatment for Azerbaijan in
the very near future,” said Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican chairman of
the Finance Committee.
During Senate debate on normal trade relations for Laos, Grassley spoke in
favor and argued that it would help alleviate poverty and bring the country
into the global marketplace. Laos is one of only four countries worldwide
and the only least-developed country to which the United States has not
granted NTR.
Senators from Wisconsin, home of about 33,000 Hmong refugees, argued against
NTR because of what they called credible reports of Laotian army atrocities
against the Hmong, a people inhabiting the mountainous regions of southern
China and adjacent areas of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
The Bush administration had pressed for passage of the NTR provisions and
for repeal of the 1916 antidumping law.
The WTO had ruled against the 1916 law, which was challenged by the European
Union (EU) and Japan. Under the law — never actually used from 1916 until
the 1990s — U.S. companies can sue foreign producers for triple damages for
dumping goods on the U.S. market with the intent of injuring U.S. industry.
To date no plaintiff has ever collected damages under the 1916 law although
a recent verdict against a Japanese newspaper press manufacturer remains
under appeal.
The bill would repeal the 1916 law, but would not overturn any case already
decided or pending under it. Whether Japan or the EU would accept such a
non-retroactive change is not known.
Miscellaneous tariff bills typically pass each session of Congress
routinely, but this one was held up over a succession of issues for three
years.
Some other provisions of the bill would:
— Extend the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to allow duty-free
treatment for hand-woven and hand-knotted carpets, a provision designed
primarily to help Afghanistan and Pakistan;
— Correct a mistake in the Trade Act of 2002 that inadvertently raised
duties on certain Andean goods under the Andean Trade Preferences Act
(ATPA);
— Clarify the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), extending
retroactively to October 2000 duty-free treatment for collars and cuffs;
— Prohibit U.S. imports of archaeological, cultural and other rare items
from Iraq to prevent illegal shipment of looted antiquities;
— Amend U.S. regulatory law concerning cellar treatment for both domestic
and imported natural wine in line with a 2001 international agreement to
eliminate testing of wine for reasons other than health and safety.
Congressional sources have indicated they intended this provision to provide
leverage in negotiations with the European Union to accept U.S. wine-making
practices.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

Senate Passes Bill Granting Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations

(Bill also includes provisions on Laos, dumping law repeal, tariff
suspensions) (570)

Washington — The Senate has passed a bill that would make normal trade
relations (NTR) — otherwise known as most-favored nation status —
permanent for Armenia

The bill would also extend NTR to Laos and repeal a 1916 law that was
ruled by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a violation of U.S.
obligations.

President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.

The 299-page bill, passed by the House of Representatives October 8,
comprises hundreds of tariff suspensions on imports of goods not produced
domestically and traded in small volumes.

A provision of the bill would grant permanent NTR for Armenia, which has
had temporary NTR, approved year-to-year by the president.

“I hope that we will be able to consider similar treatment for Azerbaijan
in the very near future,” said Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican chairman
of the Finance Committee.

During Senate debate on normal trade relations for Laos, Grassley spoke in
favor and argued that it would help alleviate poverty and bring the
country into the global marketplace. Laos is one of only four countries
worldwide and the only least-developed country to which the United States
has not granted NTR.

Senators from Wisconsin, home of about 33,000 Hmong refugees, argued
against NTR because of what they called credible reports of Laotian army
atrocities against the Hmong, a people inhabiting the mountainous regions
of southern China and adjacent areas of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

The Bush administration had pressed for passage of the NTR provisions and
for repeal of the 1916 antidumping law.

The WTO had ruled against the 1916 law, which was challenged by the
European Union (EU) and Japan. Under the law — never actually used from
1916 until the 1990s — U.S. companies can sue foreign producers for
triple damages for dumping goods on the U.S. market with the intent of
injuring U.S. industry.

To date no plaintiff has ever collected damages under the 1916 law
although a recent verdict against a Japanese newspaper press manufacturer
remains under appeal.

The bill would repeal the 1916 law, but would not overturn any case
already decided or pending under it. Whether Japan or the EU would accept
such a non-retroactive change is not known.

Miscellaneous tariff bills typically pass each session of Congress
routinely, but this one was held up over a succession of issues for three
years.

Some other provisions of the bill would:

— Extend the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to allow duty-free
treatment for hand-woven and hand-knotted carpets, a provision designed
primarily to help Afghanistan and Pakistan;

— Correct a mistake in the Trade Act of 2002 that inadvertently raised
duties on certain Andean goods under the Andean Trade Preferences Act
(ATPA);

— Clarify the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), extending
retroactively to October 2000 duty-free treatment for collars and cuffs;

— Prohibit U.S. imports of archaeological, cultural and other rare items
from Iraq to prevent illegal shipment of looted antiquities;

— Amend U.S. regulatory law concerning cellar treatment for both domestic
and imported natural wine in line with a 2001 international agreement to
eliminate testing of wine for reasons other than health and safety.

Congressional sources have indicated they intended this provision to
provide leverage in negotiations with the European Union to accept U.S.
wine-making practices.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

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Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 19 2004

PACE Monitoring Group In Baku

Members of the `Ago’ monitoring group of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) arrived in Baku from Yerevan on
Thursday as part of their tour of the South Caucasus region.

The goal of the visit is to monitor the fulfillment of Azerbaijan’s
commitments to PACE, in particular, freedom of speech and human
rights, the Foreign Ministry said.

During the three-visit the discussions will cover a peace settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as well.
The PACE delegation is scheduled to meet with President Ilham Aliyev,
government officials, leaders of opposition parties, representatives
of non-governmental and international organizations in the country.

The group members are also expected to visit penitentiaries and meet
with the convicted opposition representatives.

The monitoring group led by the German ambassador to the CE Roland
Vegener includes ambassadors of other CE member states, who oversee
certain commitments of Azerbaijan to the organization.

The `Ago’ group members will then leave Baku for Tbilisi, prepare and
submit at the next PACE session a report on results of the visit to
South Caucasus.

The `Ago’ group was established in January 2001 and is chaired by
Italy’s Ambassador Pietro Ercole Ago.