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WE MUST KNOW OUR HEROES - TSVETANA PASKALEVA
22:02 * 09.09.14
In an interview with Tert.am, the well-known Bulgarian journalist
and filmmaker Tsvetana Paskaleva spoke about her documentary series
devoted to the heroes of the Nagorno-Karabakh war of independence.
Tsvetana, how did the idea of creating the 'Loyal Ones' series about
Karabakh heroes emerge? What can the series show in the light of
the past?
Armenia's Public Television offered the idea, and I realized it was my
topic. It is my life, and I want to see the Karabakh conflict settled.
And the most important for me is to tell about the heroes of the
Karabakh war, people who secured our victory - soldiers and generals,
doctors and clergymen, as well as women. About the people I went
with throughout the Karabakh war. About Artsakh heroes thanks to
whose courage we have what we have now. Specifically, about their
heroic deeds, their names. And by creating this series I am trying to
recollect as many events and persons as possible. I began the series
with the artillery commander named Zhora. Everyone would call him 'qeri
Zhora.' He was a real hero. And it is most important for me begin my
series with a story about a living hero, who is growing vineyards now
- about a man who survived the war, and is now a pensioner growing
vineyards in the land he owns. 'Qeri Zhora' is a very beautiful
character for me, and I am grateful to the Public Television I have
been working with for two years. And when they offered me to create
a series, I understood it was the right time - when 23 years after
the events I can look back at all the events and characters. This is
most important for the Armenians, for the Armenian Diaspora to know
their heroes. We need living examples, and I have tried to recollect
the stories of individuals. Many of them are legends, but they are
real persons and I want people to know about them and remember them.
I think while creating your series you think back to the events that
happened 23 years ago. What event and whose death proved to be the
most tragic for you, and what happy moment can you recall?
Human losses were the most terrible losses, especially the dead bodies
of women and children. That was a reality I have never been able to
put up with. When in 1991 we entered a village where Azerbaijanis had
massacred women and children, my hair grew white in two days. When
I returned to Bulgaria, my mother told me I was a young woman, and
I have been dyeing my hair since. And happy moments were victories,
when our guys captured a territory or a village, with the resources
of Armenians and Azerbaijanis beyond comparison. I was proud of those
guys, heroes. And those victories made me understand the history
of my motherland, Bulgaria, though I had tried to understand it by
reading books.
Is your dearest dream is to see the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settled?
Not settled. It is actually so now. By a settlement I mean independent
Karabakh. This is a concern of my life, and I have remained here for
his reason. During the last 23 years of my life, the more time is
passing the closer I am becoming to you, Armenians, becoming part of
your history. This is a matter of my professional and human honor. I
also realize my responsibility because I have to tell this story.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/09/09/paskaleva/
22:02 * 09.09.14
In an interview with Tert.am, the well-known Bulgarian journalist
and filmmaker Tsvetana Paskaleva spoke about her documentary series
devoted to the heroes of the Nagorno-Karabakh war of independence.
Tsvetana, how did the idea of creating the 'Loyal Ones' series about
Karabakh heroes emerge? What can the series show in the light of
the past?
Armenia's Public Television offered the idea, and I realized it was my
topic. It is my life, and I want to see the Karabakh conflict settled.
And the most important for me is to tell about the heroes of the
Karabakh war, people who secured our victory - soldiers and generals,
doctors and clergymen, as well as women. About the people I went
with throughout the Karabakh war. About Artsakh heroes thanks to
whose courage we have what we have now. Specifically, about their
heroic deeds, their names. And by creating this series I am trying to
recollect as many events and persons as possible. I began the series
with the artillery commander named Zhora. Everyone would call him 'qeri
Zhora.' He was a real hero. And it is most important for me begin my
series with a story about a living hero, who is growing vineyards now
- about a man who survived the war, and is now a pensioner growing
vineyards in the land he owns. 'Qeri Zhora' is a very beautiful
character for me, and I am grateful to the Public Television I have
been working with for two years. And when they offered me to create
a series, I understood it was the right time - when 23 years after
the events I can look back at all the events and characters. This is
most important for the Armenians, for the Armenian Diaspora to know
their heroes. We need living examples, and I have tried to recollect
the stories of individuals. Many of them are legends, but they are
real persons and I want people to know about them and remember them.
I think while creating your series you think back to the events that
happened 23 years ago. What event and whose death proved to be the
most tragic for you, and what happy moment can you recall?
Human losses were the most terrible losses, especially the dead bodies
of women and children. That was a reality I have never been able to
put up with. When in 1991 we entered a village where Azerbaijanis had
massacred women and children, my hair grew white in two days. When
I returned to Bulgaria, my mother told me I was a young woman, and
I have been dyeing my hair since. And happy moments were victories,
when our guys captured a territory or a village, with the resources
of Armenians and Azerbaijanis beyond comparison. I was proud of those
guys, heroes. And those victories made me understand the history
of my motherland, Bulgaria, though I had tried to understand it by
reading books.
Is your dearest dream is to see the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settled?
Not settled. It is actually so now. By a settlement I mean independent
Karabakh. This is a concern of my life, and I have remained here for
his reason. During the last 23 years of my life, the more time is
passing the closer I am becoming to you, Armenians, becoming part of
your history. This is a matter of my professional and human honor. I
also realize my responsibility because I have to tell this story.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/09/09/paskaleva/