Epress.am News from Armenia
Those who’ve come out against the Azerbaijani film festival in Yerevan are not making any efforts for it to fail, said blogger Tigran Kocharyan, while meeting with journalists today.
“From the beginning, it was a failed event because it was neither timely nor relevant,” he explained, adding that, for no reason, the “man” (implying the organizer, Georgy Vanyan) decided to “do something, purely as a means to make money.”
Kocharyan said that he had invited Vanyan to a debate with blogger Ruben Muradyan on Azatutyun Radio (RFE/RL Armenia).
“At the last moment, he didn’t come; that is, the man, who is financed by the United States to organize a festival, doesn’t come to a radio station that is likewise financed by the United States. Basically, he either doesn’t have anything to say or what he has to say is very weak,” said Kocharyan.
According to the blogger, Vanyan needs PR “to show as news to his sponsors and the world that there are anti-tolerance, anti-Azerbaijani speeches [being made] in Armenia.”
In Kocharyan’s opinion, apparently “the only way to establish peace is to strengthen our army and get Vanyan-like elements out of circulation.”
Another participant in today’s press conference, Yerevan State Pantomime Theatre Artistic Director Jirayr Dadasyan, doesn’t agree with Kocharyan.
“It’s odd that everything was spoken about, except nothing was said about the festival,” observed Dadasyan, noting that “festival organizer Georgy Vanyan is a wonderful person.”
“Tolerance is not a bad thing; I would advise not to politicize this issue,” he said, addressing Kocharyan.
“We’re talking about the Azerbaijani film festival. Frankly, I find it very interesting what they’re doing over there [meaning, Azerbaijan]; we’re quite cut off,” said Dadasyan.
The theatre director described how in organizing an international pantomime festival in Armenia in 2001, he had also invited a theatre troupe from Azerbaijan. During a discussion at that time, Dadasyan had asked for advice from then-president Robert Kocharian, who said that he had no complications in this issue.