Epress.am News from Armenia
“There are many things in what Georgy Vanyan says or does that I don’t accept. On the other hand, the hysteric atmosphere surrounding that film festival is alien for me,” said Yerevan-based political analyst Suren Surenyants, speaking to journalists today about the Azerbaijani film festival in Yerevan and its organizer, Caucasus Center of Peace-Making Initiatives NGO President Georgy Vanyan.
“If we consider that our culture is at a higher level, if we consider that as a nation our civilization is at a higher level, even more so we shouldn’t be disturbed,” he said.
According to Surenyants, even nations that have hostile relations with each other communicate through culture, art, sport and other instruments.
“I am ashamed that our culture minister makes such assessments of that film festival, I’m ashamed that no businessman could be found in Armenia that had the courage to provide space for organizing the festival,” he said.
Surenyants stressed that he doesn’t agree with Vanyan in a number of issues, however, that, according to the analyst, doesn’t mean that “his initiative should be responded in such a barbaric way, given labels.”
“After all, we should accept that Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue will happen one day, god has granted our two nations a neighborhood: neither they’re going to go from here nor are we. And whether we like it or not, we have to relate,” he said.
In this context, the following habit of Armenia’s last two presidents has always concerned Surenyants:
“Definitely before making a firm statement, they go to Karabakh, wear a military uniform and make a harsh statement, aimed at either Azerbaijan or Turkey.”
In the analyst’s opinion, a strong leader, strong society or state is that which acts on creative initiatives in dialogue.