Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Aug 2 2009

Human stories through objectives of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian youth

Sunday, August 2, 2009
VERCÄ°HAN ZÄ°FLÄ°OÄ?LU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

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 14-year-old
project.

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 Hürriyet 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 Turkey

Talking 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 youth

Sarkissian said that together with young people in the project, they
had come to the Mediterranean city of Antalya’s Kemer district for
one-week summer camp the previous year. `During a long and tiresome
trip, the youth became friends on the bus. The Azerbaijani youth
translated the Turkish for the Armenians during the week. They are
still in contact.’

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."