Epress.am News from Armenia
“When the Embassy provides a grant for a project, the recipient of the grant is responsible for the project’s implementation,” said US Embassy in Armenia Public Affairs Officer Karen Robblee when asked by Epress.am for clarification in the embassy’s role and whether the embassy, as a sponsor, is preparing to intervene in the process of holding an Azerbaijani film festival, which has been postponed on numerous occasions, in Yerevan.
“However, when a grantee finds its right to freely assemble or its right to free speech infringed upon, we may advocate on behalf of the grantee with the authorities,” continued Robblee.
“We have done so in this case, as we have done and will continue to do in other cases where the rights to free assembly and free speech are infringed. We understand that many Armenians may not agree with the notion of such a festival. They, of course, can choose not to attend. But we would hope that those who find the presentation of these films objectionable would restrict themselves to peacefully expressing their opinions, while respecting the right of the festival organizers to express theirs. Unfortunately in this case, the organizers have been subjected to intimidation, and an apparent organized campaign to deprive them of a venue. We find that regrettable, and have made that known,” she concluded.