Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Joan Allen Talks About Working with Sally Potter on “Yes”
>From Rebecca Murray,Your Guide to Hollywood Movies.
Friday, June 24, 2005

Allen on “Yes,” Simon Abkarian and Sally Potter, and Her Career Joan
Allen on Her Attraction to _`Yes:’_ ()
`When I saw Sally Potter’s name on the script I went, `Okay, I’m
probably going to do this no matter what,’ because I love he work so
much. Then I read the script and thought it was very rich and a great
character to work on with Sally. And it was. It was an incredible
experience making it.’ Joan Allen on Working with Simon Abkarian: `It
was a really wonderful, joyful experience. I don’t speak French and
was embarrassed becauseSally speaks French very well. It was a global
cast and crew and Simon speaks Arabic, French, Armenian, English…

This was [Simon’s] first English-language film. He knows English and
working on our relationship was wonderful. I think a lot of that was
because we have both had extensive theater backgrounds. He has his own
theater company in Paris and I was part of the theater company for
many years and there’s that sense of the most important thing, which
is the story. And I think we both approached our work in a similar
way, so interesting things happen.’

Freedom to Play with the Rhythm of `Yes:’ Sally Potter’s background as
lyricist contributed to her decision to write the movie as if the
dialogue were part of a song. Potter explains it by saying she chose
verse `because its deep rhythms and its long tradition (from medieval
sonnets to Icelandic sagas to rap) enable ideas to be expressed in
lyrical ways that might otherwise be indigestible, abstract or
depersonalized.’

Allen said Potter allowed the cast a little play when it came to the
dialogue. `There was a fair amount actually. Some of it has its
ownrhythm. Within the structure of the rhythm there’s a lot of
freedom and Sally just wanted it to be emotionally true more than
anything. Then the words would come out as emotional content. We had
three weeks of rehearsal and Sally would tweak some things. She’d be
counting the number of syllables and that was really cool to watch her
do that.

It was our objective to make it accessible conversational. Most people
who see it who aren’t aware…like half way through they go, `Oh, this
is rhyme,’ and I love that that’s what is does. It would be horrible
to turn people off thinking it’s all verse.’

On Taking Her Career a New Direction: After making a name for herself
in Hollywood playing Pat Nixon in `Nixon,’ a repressed housewife in
`Pleasantville, ‘ and Elizabeth Proctor in `The Crucible,’ Allen’s
last few roles have featured a whole different side of the
multi-talented actress. Joan Allen was gardening in the nude in “Off
the Map” and she’s involved in a few hot, sexy scenes in `Yes.’ Does
she view her most recent choices as indicative of a change in the
direction of her career? `I hope so – I loveit,’ laughed Allen,
adding, `Working in the garden in the nude, that took some decision
[time]. I didn’t decide to do that right away, but I finally did.

I had said I would never really do that [and] they had a body double
ready. But I started getting superstitious that if I didn’t do it, I
wouldbe cheating the character somehow. I said, `I think I won’t
understand this film unless I do it.’ And the way Campbell Scott
handled it, and the fact that it wasn’ t a sex scene, made a bit of
different to me. I characterize it as my ` National Geographic’ shot
because she’s naked in the garden and mesmerized by a coyote. I think
it’s innocent in that sort of way.’

Joan Allen on Taking Risks: `This business is tough, and Sally
familiarized me with a term the other day when we were talking about
what is the hardest part of this business. She said, `The financing.’
It’s difficult and she struggled, ultimately making it for a million
dollars. She said it’s a very risk-averse atmosphere we live in. As an
actor I like to do different things, and if no one is willing to take
that chance to take their risks financially, you get put in a place
that maybe you don’t want to necessary stay in.

I did `Nixon,’ `Ice Storm’ and `TheCrucible’ within a year and a half,
and `Pleasantville’ shortly thereafter. So all those happened very
quickly and, to me, at the time they were vastly diffident
characters. It’s only in retrospect after some journalists have
pointed it out to me, they all havea strong moral center. I’ve done
the best in those roles and am proud of all of those films. They were
interesting characters, but I don’t want todo that anymore. The vein
has collapsed for the junkie; it’s not going to give anymore. So
fortunately I had Campbell Scott come along who so wanted me to do
that film and for many years was trying to get it financed.’

What She’d Like to Do Next: `I’d like to do more comedy. I had a great
time on `Upside of Anger.’ Many parts of it were great fun. I think
it’s cool when there’s actors who are couples that is somewhat
authentic, andthere was a mini version of that with me and Kevin
[Costner]. We were of similar age, trying to have an adult
relationship with all the baggage that goes along with it.’

OSCE.org
June 22 2005

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

OSCE Parliamentarians meet in Washington to debate international
security and human rights topics

/noticias.info/ COPENHAGEN, 22 June 2005 – Nearly 300
parliamentarians from the 55 OSCE participating States will meet in
Washington, DC, from July 1-5, to debate issues affecting the OSCE
area, including gender equality, Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia
(Georgia), trafficking in human beings, and respect for human rights.

The 14th Annual Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe will be
addressed by senior officials including the US Secretary of State,
Condoleezza Rice, and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign
Minister Dimitrij Rupel. The current President of the Assembly is US
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings of Florida.

Coming from all parts of the OSCE, parliamentarians from North
America, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia will meet to debate
current issues. In addition to the resolutions prepared by the
Assembly’s Rapporteurs on political, economic, environmental and
human rights issues related to the Session’s theme ’30 Years since
Helsinki: Challenges Ahead’, supplementary resolutions on specific
issues have been prepared.

Consideration will be given to topics such as piracy, trafficking in
human beings, standards of conduct by international humanitarian
workers, combating terrorism, trafficking in small arms, the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, gender equality, co-operation with
Mediterranean states, Abkhazia (Georgia), money laundering and
corruption, Moldova, anti-Semitism, election observation activities
and OSCE reform. The Final Document, to be adopted on the last day of
the meeting, will include recommendations on these and other issues.

Meeting for the first time in the United States, this will also be
the first opportunity for the OSCE parliamentarians to meet and hear
an address by the newly appointed Secretary General of the OSCE,
Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut. The Assembly will also honour
Ukraine Television Channel Five with the tenth OSCE Prize for
Journalism and Democracy, to be awarded on the first day of the
Session.

The meetings of the Assembly will take place in the premises of the
JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC. All documents and forms for the
Session, including press applications, resolutions and other general
information, can be found on the Assembly’s website:

The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, created by the CSCE Summit in
Paris in 1990, is the parliamentary dimension of the 55-nation
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The primary
task of the 317 member Assembly is to facilitate inter-parliamentary
dialogue, an important aspect of the overall effort to meet the
challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE area.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE 3RD CONVOCATION TO HOLD ITS
LAST PLENARY SESSION ON JUNE 22

STEPANAKERT, June 22. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh National Assembly of
the 3rd convocation will hold its last plenary session. According to
NKR NA Press Service, the following issues of the agenda will be
discussed by the parliament: the draft bill on the decision of NKR NA
on Approval of the Annual Report on the Execution of NKR State Budget
for 2004″, the information of NKR Ministry of Finance and Economy on
Execution of NKR State Budget in Q 1, 2005, draft bill on Fixed
Payments for Petrol and Diesel Fuel, draft bill on making amendments
to the NKR law on Tax on Trade, draft bill on making amendments and
additions to the NKR law on Fixed Payments, comments of NKR NA, and
statement of the NKR NA Chairman. Also questions addressed to the
government and statements by deputies are envisaged.

To remind, NKR NA of the third convocation had two factions: “Artsakh
Democratic Party” and ARF “Dashnaktsutyun”. The first included 19
members, the second – 8. Six of them had the status of independent
deputies. According to preliminary data, the new parliament includes
12 members from the ruling “Artsakh Democratic Party”, 10 – from “Free
Motherland” party, 3 – from ARF “Dasnaktsutyun-Movement 88” opposition
bloc. 8 Deputies are considered to be independent. A.H. -0–

Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR)
June 22 2005

ARMENIA: GOLD WORKERS CAVE IN

Bizarre twist in labour dispute at gold mining company leaves
management calling all the shots.

By Susanna Petrosian in Sotk

An unprecedented walk out by Armenian gold workers ended in failure
when management fired the strikers then hired them back under the
same conditions they were protesting.

Almost 500 workers from the Ararat Gold Recovery Company’s Sotk mine
went on strike May 11 to demand a better working environment and
improved safety procedures following the deaths of two people at
another AGRC mine in April.

`The conditions we work under are worse than those of prisoners of
war,’ said Armen Saakian, chairman of the union representing AGRC’s
staff. `We work 12 hours a day at a height of 2,370 metres, we have
no canteen, drinking water or other basic infrastructure. The miners
work to put bread on the table, just to be able to get up and go to
work the next day.’

Five days after the strike began, however, they were locked out by
management and fired. They have now all been rehired – minus the 80
strike leaders.

Demands including the abolition of three-month contracts, talks on a
collective pay agreement and improved conditions in the workplace
still haven’t been met. Management has, however, agreed to review
salaries, which have suffered because of the fall in strength of the
dollar.

AGRC director Vardan Vardanian said working conditions at Sotk were
no worse than at comparable businesses in Armenia. He said the
strikers were fired because they were absent from work without good
reason.

`When workers make demands which are not related to the company’s
work, there can be only one reaction – the course we took,’ he told
IWPR.

`The workers simply do not know the law. We haven’t done anything
illegal …Now they are all working normally. They realise this is
not the way to behave.’

Stepan Barseghian, the governor of Gegarkunik district, where the
mine is located, also considers the dispute over, saying that `thanks
to the talks, we have managed to reinstate people in their jobs’.

The workers, however, remain deeply unhappy, saying they were in
effect given no option but to sign new contracts under the old
working conditions, while the strike leaders have not been rehired.

`The leadership is just as intransigent as it always was, which shows
the indifference of our government,’ Armen Sahakian told IWPR. `No
one gives a damn about us.’

Another worker, who asked to remain anonymous, complained that the
Sotk gold workers feel `abandoned in their own country to the mercy
of fate’ and were angry that the government did not step in to help.

Even though the right to strike is enshrined in the Armenian
constitution, the government has stayed firmly out of the dispute.
`We have no official information about conditions at the Sotk mine.
We get everything from you journalists,’ said the press secretary for
the ministry of labour and social issues Hasmik Khachatrian.

At the ministry of trade and economic development, officials who
asked not to be named, told IWPR that it was not up to ministry to
get involved in the dispute, since AGRC is a private company owned by
India’s Sterlite Industries Limited.

This attitude has angered trade unionists like Anastas Pahlevanian
who said the union is prepared to take the case of the 80 fired
workers to the European Court of Human Rights.

`AGRC’s leadership wants to break people and it is only too happy to
take advantage of the government’s indifference,’ said Pahlevanian.

Fellow union leader Yevgeny Kozhemyakin told IWPR that the
extraordinary events in Sotk are best explained by Armenia’s high
unemployment rate, which gives management power over workers who are
unlikely to find another job.

AGRC is also facing controversy on other fronts – particularly for
its environmental record.

It was criticised for a plan to move its Ararat gold enrichment plant
to Sotk even though the mine is located in the environmentally
sensitive Lake Sevan basin.

The ministry of the environment rejected the proposal on the grounds
that ore processing is prohibited in the basin, but Vardanian hopes
the move can still be made.

`One gets the impression no one cares about gold mining in Armenia,’
he said. `As for the law, it is not so cut and dry. Laws can always
be changed, for one reason or another.’

Today the government is considering another AGRC project proposal for
the construction of an 80 million US dollar gold enrichment plant
near the Sotk mine, but this time outside the boundary of the Lake
Sevan basin.

The idea is under review but local environmentalist Rafael
Hovhannesian pledged to `battle with the same determination as we did
for the first project, without question’.

The people who live in the villages of Ararat and Banavan next to the
existing Ararat gold enrichment plant also accuse AGRC of
contravening environmental laws.

The head of the Ararat village administration told IWPR that
villagers were worried about a large, pink cloud, which is blown from
the plant over the fields and the nearby village. The substance is
thought to be potassium cyanide.

`There is a reddish-pink dust everywhere, and most importantly it is
in our lungs, and our children also swallow it,’ said Armen Torosian,
an unemployed villager.

The environment minister Vartan Aivazian is certain that AGRC has
`ecological problems’. `I am talking about on-going processes which
can affect the water and soil,’ said the minister.

In response to the complaints, Vardanian said, `Potassium cyanide is
not the most dangerous substance produced by industry in Armenia.’
He blamed the local population for ignoring a `sanitary zone’ around
the Ararat factory where they had been told not to farm, `In this
zone they are grazing cattle and catching fish.’

Susanna Petrosian is a journalist with the Noyan Tapan news agency in
Yerevan.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS VISITS ARMENIAN CHURCH IN SACRAMENTO

YEREVAN, June 21. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II has
visited the Armenian church of Saint Hakob in Sacramento. The press
service of the Holy Echmiadzin reports that about 300 believers were
looking forward to Garegin II’s arrival. He conveyed the blessing of
the Mother See to them, urging them to remain committed to their
Christian faith and maintain ties with the Holy Echmiadzin. P.T. -0–

ARMENIAN GOSPEL ASSOCIATION CONTINUES IMPLEMENTION OF ITS PROGRAMS IN
ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 20, RA President Robert
Kocharian received the Armenian Gospel Association’s delegation headed
by Doctor Hrayr Aharonian, the Chairman of the Association. Noyan
Tapan was informed about this by the RA President’s Press
Office. R.Kocharian mentioned with satisfaction that meetings with the
Armenian Gospels are of regular character. The President highly
estimated educational, charity programs implemented by the Gospel
Church and mentioned that succsession in an initiated affair is always
noticeable. Speaking about future plans of the Gospel Church, Rene
Levonian, Armenia’s Representative of the Armenian Gospel World
Council and the Armenian Gospel Association, the Chairman of the
Armenian Gospel Church informed that they will continue numerous
programs concerning education, culture, sport, and the social sphere
which include both capital and different marzes of the republic. He
also said that they are intended to start development programs in
future.

A1plus

| 17:35:30 | 20-06-2005 | Regions |

THE BURNS FAMILY HELPS MOTHERS AND CHILDREN

On 21 June Miss Thorda Abbott-Watt, the British Ambassador, and Mrs Rebecca
Kohler, Chief of Party of Project NOVA, will visit Tavush Marz to donate
medical equipment and supplies worth $25,000 to three hospitals. Mr Armen
Ghularyan, the Tavush Marzpet and Dr Karine Dovlatbekyan, the Head of the
Department of Health and Social Affairs, will accompany them. The donation
includes an incubator, a sonograph machine, medical supplies and related
clinical training.

The donation will be given to the Tavoush region. Tavush is one of the most
remote marzes in the country, with a population of 120,000, of which 60%
live in rural areas. The region has suffered disproportionately from the
socio-economic changes of the last fifteen years. It has higher than average
infant mortality and childhood anemia rates and there is limited access to
specialized care for many rural families. Approximately 1000 infants are
born each year in the marz.

The USAID-supported Project NOVA is providing the equipment and clinical
training in co-operation with the British Embassy. The British Embassy also
supports efforts to strengthen the marz-wide infrastructure and community
development through the DfID ARDEP programme.

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNED LAW ON BUILDING STORAGE FOR PROCESSED NUCLEAR FUEL

21.06.2005 02:25

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian yesterday signed the
Law on building of storage for nuclear fuel processed at the Armenian
Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the Press Service of the Armenian leader told
PanARMENIAN.Net. The first storage of the king for the Armenian NPP was
built in Armenia in 2000. The law in question provides for building of a
second storage with an exploitation term of about 50 years. As the Armenian
Minister of Energy reported earlier, the building of the new depository will
cost some 10 million euros. It should be reminded that the Armenian NPP is
conveyed to trust management of Inter RAO UES CJSC, which is a branch
establishment of RAO UES of Russia and Rosenergoatom Concern, for 5 years.
The EU insists on the closure of the NPP and has suggested to allocate 100
million euros to that end. The Armenian party considers the NPP can function
for at least 15 years, as well as alternative energy sources should be found
before conservation and some $1 billion will be needed for that, Regnum news
agency reported.

Nagorno Karabakh holds parliamentary polls

Agence France Presse — English
June 19, 2005 Sunday 6:50 AM GMT

STEPANAKERT, Azerbaijan June 19 — Parliamentary polls opened Sunday in
the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno Karabakh, a mostly Armenian
enclave within Azerbaijan, in the face of strong opposition from
Azeri authorities.

Seven parties and 185 candidates are vying for places in Nagorno
Karabakh’s fourth parliament, with two thirds of the parliament’s 33
seats to be elected directly and one third under a proportional system.

Nagorno Karabakh’s authorities have said the vote is a chance to
prove to the world the territory’s independence.

On the eve of polling Nagorno Karabakh’s leader, Arkady Gukasyan,
promised “an honest and transparent vote.”

It was essential, Gukasyan said, that the vote come up to European
standards in order to avoid harming Nagorno Karabakh’s image and
“the process of peaceful settlement with Azerbaijan.”

“All attempts at violations, whoever the author, will be denounced and
initiators punished with the full severity of the law,” Gukasyan said.

However no foreign governments have sent observer missions, reflecting
the territory’s unresolved status, although some 100 non-governmental
monitors are attending, including from Iran, Russia, Ukraine and the
United States as well as the Central Asian former Soviet republics
and Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia republic.

Nagorno Karabakh is widely seen as propped up by Armenia, which
fought a war with Azerbaijan over the territory in 1993 and 1994,
leaving an estimated 25,000 people dead.

Azerbaijan’s authorities have denounced the vote as illegitimate and
Turkey, long at odds with Armenia and a stauch supporter of Azerbaijan,
also criticised the poll on Friday.

In his pre-election comments, Gukasyan rounded on opposition parties,
accusing them of “insinuations” and “libel” during campaigning,
a reference to charges that senior Karabakh officials had abused
their positions in order to win support.

“False rumors were circulated that the authorities sanctioned pressure
on the electorate, threatened people… this didn’t and couldn’t
happen,” Gukasyan said.

Ahead of the current poll, Armenia said it was ready to give up
seven other regions of Azerbaijan it occupied during the fighting,
once Nagorno Karabakh’s status has been settled.

Preliminary poll results are expected late Monday or early Tuesday.

For the results to be declared valid at least 25 percent of the 89,000
people eligible to vote must turn out.

The parliament is elected for a five-year term.

AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA AND ARMENIA SIGN TRIPARTITE MEMORANDUM ON CREATION OF INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH CAUCASIAN COUNTRIES

TBILISI, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Yesterday a tripartite memorandum on
creation of Inter-parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasian countries
was signed at the Georgian parliament. After the ceremony of signing
negotiations were conducted among Georgian Parliamentary Speaker
Nino Burjanadze, Milli Majlis deputy Siyavush Novruzov and RA NA
Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosian. In her interview to the APA agency Nino
Burjanadze called the signing of the memorandum an important event. “We
took an important step on the way of creation of an Inter-parliamentary
Assembly of South Caucasian countries. I am glad that both Azeri
and Armenian parties signed this memorandum. We are sure that the
Inter-parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasian countries created on
the basis and positive experience of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly
of Baltic countries will assist to formation of our relations, will
play a key role in solution of problems among our countries, as well
as will assist to come up with a united front in solution of some
problems at international organizations.” Nino Burjanadze called the
signing of the document by Azerbaijan and Armenia a positive step
in spite of the fact that both states are at war. “In a one word,
the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasian countries will
create conditions for all of 3 states to come up with a united
front in negotiations with the European Union, NATO and European
structures. With this we can show the countries of the world that
in spite of existence of problems among South Caucasian countries,
we can come up with a united position.” Siyavush Novruzov said:
“Our today’s meeting once more showed that in order to solve the
problems existing in the South Caucasus and first of all the Karabakh
conflict important for Azerbaijan we should hold joint discussions
and find ways of solution of the problems.” Tigran Torosian reminded
in his interview that deputies of all of 3 countries have declared
about their readiness for cooperation for several times: “We worked
jointly within the framework of the South Caucasian Parliament
during the last 3 years. I am sure that we have done much during
this period. I want to especially mention that we achieved turning
of the idea of South Caucasian Parliament into the idea of creation
of an Inter-parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasian countries. The
common goal within the framework of the assembly is integration to
Europe. And joint activity can bring a large profit here. I want to
mention that our parliaments still have much to do in order that the
Inter-parliamentary Assembly created today on paper shouldn’t remain
only an idea but turn into an organization doing a concrete work. And
as for difficulties and misunderstandings existing in our region,
I am sure that they can be solved no matter how difficult they are.”