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UN YEREVAN OFFICE IS READY FOR DIALOGUE WITH WWII VETERANS DISPLEASED WITH SOME OF THE FILMS SCREENED DURING CONFLICT AND RECONCILIATION FESTIVAL
ARMINFO
Tuesday, April 2, 17:48
The UN Yerevan Office is ready for dialogue with the WWII veterans
displeased with some of the films screened during the Conflict and
Reconciliation in Central-Eastern European Cinema festival.
A group of Armenian WWII veterans were outraged to see two of the
films (Three Stories from Galicia (the United States) and Rose
(Poland)) blackening the Soviet army and sullying the image of the
Soviet soldier.
Representative of the Office's Public Information Department Maria
Dotsenko told ArmInfo that the objective of the festival was to
show that even during war ordinary people can do good things and can
sometimes even save the lives of their enemies and this was in line
with the UN's key values - peace, security, tolerance and respect
for human dignity.
Dotsenko thinks that it is good that the films screened at the festival
have received response from the Armenian society.
She said that history has always been ambiguous and controversial.
"The stories told in the films were really stressful, but war is a
horrible thing, and some facts become known only when it has long been
over. The more people get to know stories of human reconciliation,
kindness, friendship and ability to stay human whatever happens,
the more of them will value peace and security," Dotsenko said.
Dotsenko admitted that the film "Rose" (Poland) is a very complicated
and painful film. But many facts of history have been unknown before,
she said and added that the war has many dark sides. Therefore, it is
important to know that in such difficult situations many people were
able to remain humane, to save each other and their enemies as well.
As regards the film "Three Stories of Galicia" (USA), which was shot
in Galicia (now these lands are in the territory of both Poland and
Ukraine), it depicts the events that took place in Eastern Europe
during and after the Second World War. The UN representative stressed
that one can see the story of reconciliation between two states as
exemplified by the relations between the Ukrainian and Polish people.
She said that this is a good example of how nations and political
leaders of these two countries live in peace. She added that one should
face the present and the future, co-exist peacefully, live and build
a better future for the growing generation. The choice of this film
was guided by these reasons.
Dotsenko stressed that she is ready for an open dialogue with the
veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Moreover, if they want to speak
to specific embassies that presented the films, she can provide
their contacts.
The international Film Festival "Conflict and Reconciliation in the
Central- Eastern European Cinema" started in Yerevan on Feb 13 and will
last till April 10. It is being held with the support of the UN Office
in Armenia, as well as the Embassies of Bulgaria, Czech Republic,
Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. Earlier Armenian
Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan told ArmInfo's correspondent
that the Culture Ministry had not even been informed that a festival
would be held and what films would be shown at the festival. Poghosyan
added that as a citizen of Armenia, the country that lost 300,000
sons at the Great Patriotic War, she highly venerates the memory
of the deceased heroes and understands the veterans' indignation at
some films' different view of the years when the nations of a single
country were saving the world from the hawkish national-socialism -
elementary fascism that took dozens of millions of lives.
By resolution 59/26 of 22 November 2004, the UN General Assembly
declared 8-9 May as a time of remembrance and reconciliation and, while
recognizing that Member States may have individual days of victory,
liberation and commemoration, invited all Member States, organizations
of the United Nations System, non-governmental organizations and
individuals to observe annually either one or both of these days in
an appropriate manner to pay tribute to all victims of the Second
World War.
ARMINFO
Tuesday, April 2, 17:48
The UN Yerevan Office is ready for dialogue with the WWII veterans
displeased with some of the films screened during the Conflict and
Reconciliation in Central-Eastern European Cinema festival.
A group of Armenian WWII veterans were outraged to see two of the
films (Three Stories from Galicia (the United States) and Rose
(Poland)) blackening the Soviet army and sullying the image of the
Soviet soldier.
Representative of the Office's Public Information Department Maria
Dotsenko told ArmInfo that the objective of the festival was to
show that even during war ordinary people can do good things and can
sometimes even save the lives of their enemies and this was in line
with the UN's key values - peace, security, tolerance and respect
for human dignity.
Dotsenko thinks that it is good that the films screened at the festival
have received response from the Armenian society.
She said that history has always been ambiguous and controversial.
"The stories told in the films were really stressful, but war is a
horrible thing, and some facts become known only when it has long been
over. The more people get to know stories of human reconciliation,
kindness, friendship and ability to stay human whatever happens,
the more of them will value peace and security," Dotsenko said.
Dotsenko admitted that the film "Rose" (Poland) is a very complicated
and painful film. But many facts of history have been unknown before,
she said and added that the war has many dark sides. Therefore, it is
important to know that in such difficult situations many people were
able to remain humane, to save each other and their enemies as well.
As regards the film "Three Stories of Galicia" (USA), which was shot
in Galicia (now these lands are in the territory of both Poland and
Ukraine), it depicts the events that took place in Eastern Europe
during and after the Second World War. The UN representative stressed
that one can see the story of reconciliation between two states as
exemplified by the relations between the Ukrainian and Polish people.
She said that this is a good example of how nations and political
leaders of these two countries live in peace. She added that one should
face the present and the future, co-exist peacefully, live and build
a better future for the growing generation. The choice of this film
was guided by these reasons.
Dotsenko stressed that she is ready for an open dialogue with the
veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Moreover, if they want to speak
to specific embassies that presented the films, she can provide
their contacts.
The international Film Festival "Conflict and Reconciliation in the
Central- Eastern European Cinema" started in Yerevan on Feb 13 and will
last till April 10. It is being held with the support of the UN Office
in Armenia, as well as the Embassies of Bulgaria, Czech Republic,
Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. Earlier Armenian
Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan told ArmInfo's correspondent
that the Culture Ministry had not even been informed that a festival
would be held and what films would be shown at the festival. Poghosyan
added that as a citizen of Armenia, the country that lost 300,000
sons at the Great Patriotic War, she highly venerates the memory
of the deceased heroes and understands the veterans' indignation at
some films' different view of the years when the nations of a single
country were saving the world from the hawkish national-socialism -
elementary fascism that took dozens of millions of lives.
By resolution 59/26 of 22 November 2004, the UN General Assembly
declared 8-9 May as a time of remembrance and reconciliation and, while
recognizing that Member States may have individual days of victory,
liberation and commemoration, invited all Member States, organizations
of the United Nations System, non-governmental organizations and
individuals to observe annually either one or both of these days in
an appropriate manner to pay tribute to all victims of the Second
World War.