Epress.am News from Armenia
A question by a Baku-based listener on Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) radio on whether any films were produced in the last 10 years on friendship between Armenians and Azerbaijanis or between Russians and Georgians has provoked a small debate between the deputy chief editor Sergei Buntman and journalist Matvey Ganapolsky.
“And how can a film be made about some kind of friendship?” asked Ganapolsky.
“You still have to resolve your issues on Karabakh. Because your and the Armenians’ positions are very clear; I have studied them. Thus, one of the conflicting nations should evaporate and Nagorno-Karabakh will remain for the other. Films can be made about friendship between nations when there really is friendship between [those] nations. So, as I understand it, a film about friendship between Armenians and Azerbaijanis will be produced by the best filmmakers of the world when the nations really become friends,” said Ganapolsky.
“I would not want to respond that way,” said Buntman. “Well you can answer this way, that you hang Negros, but Armenians and Azerbaijanis cannot divide Nagorno-Karabakh. Incidentally, many are struggling today to ensure this issue is not an insurmountable obstacle in the lives of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, and for that I can only thank them. I know these people; I know Armenians, just as much as I know Azerbaijanis.”
“I, of course, don’t mean average citizens; I’m talking about politicians who make policies on the principle of ‘no steps back.’ Well, no step back means no film,” concluded Ganapolsky.