It seems Armenians do not like Azerbaijani films. A second attempt by a local NGO to organise an Azerbaijani film festival in Armenia fails. The reason is beyond cinema.

An attempt by an Armenian NGO to organise an Azerbaijani film festival has failed after protestors surrounded the venue where it was to be held. This was the second time that the Caucasus Centre for Peacemaking Initiatives has tried to organise such an event.

According to media reports about 50 people blocked the entrance to Asbarez club in the Armenian city of Gyumri, shouting slogans “No to Azerbaijani films festival!”.

The protesters entered the club and threathened the organiser of the event, chairman of the Caucasus Center of Peace-Making Initiatives until he agreed to cancel it. The protesters threw eggs at Georgi Vanyan’s car as he left the area.

In a statement Vanyan accused the Mayor of Gyumri of orchjestrating the protest.

Commonspace.eu political editor said that the incident is symptomatic of public mood in both Armenia and Azerbaijan where war rhetoric over the last twenty years is now deeply embedded in the mind of the vast majority of the population of the two countries. "There is nothing to suggest that a similar situation would not have arisen if somebody had tried to organise an Armenian film festival in Azerbaijan. It is not that the two sides do not like each other's cinema. Public opinion is constantly being fed propaganda that depicts the other side as enemy and aggressor. Those who try to break these sterotypical images end up being accused of being traitors. The two governments have to bear some responsability for this situation and the quicker they understand the need to start reversing this process the better. In the meantime those elements of civil society that have the courage to challenge the present situation need to be supported and encouraged."

source: commonspace.eu with agencies

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Israel recognises Somaliland, opening a pandora's box in Africa

Israel recognises Somaliland, opening a pandora's box in Africa

Israel ‍has recognized Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday. "Together with Foreign Minister Sa'ar and the President of the Republic of Somaliland, we signed a joint and mutual declaration," Netanyahu posted to X. "This declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords signed at the initiative of President Trump," he said. In doing so, Israel became the first country to recognize the breakaway region. Somalia's Foreign Ministry denounced Israel's "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty and warned that recognizing Somaliland as an independent state would "undermine regional peace." "Illegitimate actions of this nature seriously undermine regional peace and stability, exacerbate political and security tensions," the ministry said in a statement. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said he held phone calls with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa, following Israel's announcement The ministers condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognizing breakaway regions poses a threat to international peace and security, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said. "This initiative by Israel, which aligns with its expansionist policy and its efforts to do everything to prevent the recognition of a Palestinian state, constitutes overt interference in Somalia's domestic affairs," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.  The African Union (AU) joined the condemnations of Israel's recognition of Somaliland.  "Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia... risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent," an AU statement read. Israel said that it has now established diplomatic relations with Somaliland, and the two will soon set up embassies. commonspace.eu political editor said in a comment that by recognising Somaliland Israel has opened Africa's pandora's box. "The borders of most African countries were drawn in colonial times, and in the post-colonial period of the last seventy years, these borders have been considered sacrosanct. The two exceptions are also to be found in the Horn of Africa, where Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia and South Sudan broke away from Sudan." (click the image to read the full article).

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Israel recognises Somaliland, opening a pandora's box in Africa

Israel recognises Somaliland, opening a pandora's box in Africa

Israel ‍has recognized Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday. "Together with Foreign Minister Sa'ar and the President of the Republic of Somaliland, we signed a joint and mutual declaration," Netanyahu posted to X. "This declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords signed at the initiative of President Trump," he said. In doing so, Israel became the first country to recognize the breakaway region. Somalia's Foreign Ministry denounced Israel's "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty and warned that recognizing Somaliland as an independent state would "undermine regional peace." "Illegitimate actions of this nature seriously undermine regional peace and stability, exacerbate political and security tensions," the ministry said in a statement. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said he held phone calls with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa, following Israel's announcement The ministers condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognizing breakaway regions poses a threat to international peace and security, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said. "This initiative by Israel, which aligns with its expansionist policy and its efforts to do everything to prevent the recognition of a Palestinian state, constitutes overt interference in Somalia's domestic affairs," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.  The African Union (AU) joined the condemnations of Israel's recognition of Somaliland.  "Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia... risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent," an AU statement read. Israel said that it has now established diplomatic relations with Somaliland, and the two will soon set up embassies. commonspace.eu political editor said in a comment that by recognising Somaliland Israel has opened Africa's pandora's box. "The borders of most African countries were drawn in colonial times, and in the post-colonial period of the last seventy years, these borders have been considered sacrosanct. The two exceptions are also to be found in the Horn of Africa, where Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia and South Sudan broke away from Sudan." (click the image to read the full article).