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STOP THE "STOP" FESTIVAL!: ANGERED GYUMRI RESIDENTS DEMAND CANCELLATION OF FILMS OF AZERBAIJANI ORIGIN
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
12.04.12 | 15:12
Photo: Edgar Barseghyan/Via Facebook
Gyumri sees pickets against the Azerbaijani Film Festival to be held
on April 12
'Stop' Azerbaijani Film Festival which will be hosted by Gyumri,
on Thursday raised a big clamor among Gyumretsis; the organizers
of the festival even receive threats of physical revenge along with
pickets which are being held for several days. Nevertheless, despite
the public discontent, the festival will be held in the hall provided
by Gyumri's Asparez Club of Journalists.
Enlarge Photo Activists in Yerevan rallied against the Azerbaijani
film festival to be held in Gyumri Georgi Vanyan, Chairman of the
Caucasus Center of Peace-Making Initiatives, who is the organizer of
the festival, says Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan is behind the threats and
stirring up public anger.
Ghukasyan has said that the festival - which is scheduled for April
12 is a "shameful betrayal" and his chief adviser Levon Khachatryan
insisted that it must be banned "at any cost."
"I have received threats several times, they call me and threaten,
saying that they will kill me if I hold such a festival. Now I know
for sure who stands behind the threats, and after the festival I am
planning to call a press conference and clarify everything," Vanyan
told ArmeniaNow.
A series of four short films: one documentary and three feature films
produced in Azerbaijan in 2007-2008 will be shown during the festival.
The organizers are sure, that "the Festival is an island of secure
environment for direct communication surrounded by the conditions of
distorted human values, and propaganda that poisons healthy civilized
relations."
This festival was supposed to be held yet in 2010 in Yerevan and
Vanadzor, however it was cancelled because no space was provided for
hosting it.
Many people in Gyumri urged head of Asparez Club of Journalists
Levon Barseghyan not to provide a space, accusing him of "betrayal
of the nation."
Barseghyan clarifies that "the hall of freedom of speech of Asparez
Club of Journalists has been given to everybody who wished to have it
for 12 years without a preliminary or other censorship.The creation of
an opportunity for freedom of expression, as well as the defense of
freedom of speech and expression is the main principle of the club,"
Barseghyan said.
Along with other youth groups, the Youth Union of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun) also released a
statement on Thursday, urging to "join their picket, which is based
on principles of each Armenian person."
From: A. Papazian
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
12.04.12 | 15:12
Photo: Edgar Barseghyan/Via Facebook
Gyumri sees pickets against the Azerbaijani Film Festival to be held
on April 12
'Stop' Azerbaijani Film Festival which will be hosted by Gyumri,
on Thursday raised a big clamor among Gyumretsis; the organizers
of the festival even receive threats of physical revenge along with
pickets which are being held for several days. Nevertheless, despite
the public discontent, the festival will be held in the hall provided
by Gyumri's Asparez Club of Journalists.
Enlarge Photo Activists in Yerevan rallied against the Azerbaijani
film festival to be held in Gyumri Georgi Vanyan, Chairman of the
Caucasus Center of Peace-Making Initiatives, who is the organizer of
the festival, says Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan is behind the threats and
stirring up public anger.
Ghukasyan has said that the festival - which is scheduled for April
12 is a "shameful betrayal" and his chief adviser Levon Khachatryan
insisted that it must be banned "at any cost."
"I have received threats several times, they call me and threaten,
saying that they will kill me if I hold such a festival. Now I know
for sure who stands behind the threats, and after the festival I am
planning to call a press conference and clarify everything," Vanyan
told ArmeniaNow.
A series of four short films: one documentary and three feature films
produced in Azerbaijan in 2007-2008 will be shown during the festival.
The organizers are sure, that "the Festival is an island of secure
environment for direct communication surrounded by the conditions of
distorted human values, and propaganda that poisons healthy civilized
relations."
This festival was supposed to be held yet in 2010 in Yerevan and
Vanadzor, however it was cancelled because no space was provided for
hosting it.
Many people in Gyumri urged head of Asparez Club of Journalists
Levon Barseghyan not to provide a space, accusing him of "betrayal
of the nation."
Barseghyan clarifies that "the hall of freedom of speech of Asparez
Club of Journalists has been given to everybody who wished to have it
for 12 years without a preliminary or other censorship.The creation of
an opportunity for freedom of expression, as well as the defense of
freedom of speech and expression is the main principle of the club,"
Barseghyan said.
Along with other youth groups, the Youth Union of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun) also released a
statement on Thursday, urging to "join their picket, which is based
on principles of each Armenian person."
From: A. Papazian