The communication between Armenian and Azerbaijani people is almost nonexistent. Realizing this problem, the Internews organization started in 1995 to implement joint projects between the countries. The target was children and youth, and the result was a project named ’Dialogue Through Film’
Youth from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijani and Nagorno-Karabakh have gathered to film human stories as part of a project called “Dialogue Through Film.” The goal is to remove prejudices between societies.Mutual talks have been ongoing to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Although politicians tell international audiences that positive steps are being taken toward a solution, Armenia's current situation does not live up to expectations. Much time and patience is needed to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem despite all interventions.
Communication between Armenian and Azerbaijani people is almost nonexistent. This situation makes the abyss between them deeper. Realizing this problem, the Internews Media Support Organization in Armenia started talks with Azerbaijan in 1995 to implement joint projects for children and youth.
Internews got positive answers from its Azerbaijani partner, the Internews Public Association, and Georgia has now been included in the project, too. Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijani children were brought together in Georgia and Turkey. Later on, the youth living under the Nagorno-Karabakh administration were included in the
TV in both countries vetoes Karabakh project “We put effort into our people's conciliation. This is why children and youth are very important,” project manager Nouneh Sarkissian told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Young people between 13 and 25 are eligible for the project. They make short films and documentaries featuring human stories from their own countries. The films are broadcast on Armenian, Azerbaijan and Georgian televisions.
Sarkissian said they had encountered a problem on the Karabakh side of the project, adding that films made there for the project were not shown in Armenia and Azerbaijan. She said they found a solution with their Azerbaijani partners and distributed films on DVD.
Youth come together in Georgia and TurkeyTalking about the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Sarkissian said Russia played a big role in deepening the problem. “If Armenia and Azerbaijan had declared their independence when the Karabakh problem occurred, the problem would not have been so deep. The USSR had a big role in bringing the Karabakh problem to a dead end,” she said.
She said Armenian and Azerbaijani youth could not visit each other because of the current situation and this is a big deficiency. This is why they often come together in Georgia and Turkey.
Azerbaijani youth make Turkish translation for Armenian youthSarkissian said that together with young people in the project, they had come to the Mediterranean city of Antalya's Kemer district for
Sarkissian said they also planned to launch similar projects between Turkey and Armenia in the near future. “We believe in the significance of our project and are determined to continue with a strong belief,” she said.
BOX
“We were ordinary people who hate fighting.” One of the young people who gathered for the project, Vugar Safarov, said, “This project shaped my personality, led me to see what happens through different perspectives.”
Armenian Artak Vardanian, who was very pleased with becoming a part of the project just like his Azerbaijani partner, said, “We are not Armenian, Georgian or Azerbaijani, but ordinary humans who hate fighting and war.”
Georgian participant Levan Jobavay said the following about the project, “Working as part of this program made me free and strengthened my feeling of responsibility. It is very nice to learn about different cultures.”
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
