“Caucasian Reshuffle” as example of tolerance

Topical informal interaction between Armenian and Azerbaijani public figures has been discussed at a round-table discussion hosted with the assistance of the Dutch peacekeeping organization Aykivi of the Armenian committee at the Helsinki Civil Assembly.

Attendees of the round-table conference reminded that Armenians and Azerbaijanis communicated well in Soviet times, they had examples of economic cooperation, with Armenian and Azerbaijani theatres operating in Baku and Yerevan, newspapers published in the Armenian language in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani papers in Armenia. One of the founders of Armenian cinema studies was the scriptwriter Sabir Rezayev, who contributed to the culture of Armenia. Armenia published a collection of Rezayev’s works in 2009. During the period of rising hostilities, in October 1988 an Azerbaijani deputy was elected from Amasia District to the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR. Older generations still have positive memories of personal communication.

Tigran Paskevichyan, a well-known political writer, says that he had good Azerbaijani comrades-in-arms. He expressed misunderstanding of inter-ethnic incompatibility.

Participants at the round table pointed out the need for active contacts with NGOs, youth and various professional groups, including experts, journalists and others. Informal talks touched upon the concerns of a wide range of the population, they are a link between societies in conflict. Burning bridges would lead to total isolation. Maintaining and developing the links needs realization of programs, Isabela Sargsyan, Chairwoman of the “Youth for Democracy” Public Movement, says.

Attendees of the round-table conference underlined that, despite negotiations on a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, contacts between NGOs and professional groups remain a parallel process at a certain point. “Obviously, we should not have too many hopes in these contracts, but, on the other hand, a conflict may be resolved without people involved. Even a perfect political decision will be negative without public understanding and readiness for peace, which can always turn into a new clash. A special role in preparing people for peace may be played by informal public interaction of expert communities, youth and others. This is why both processes must be parallel and contribute to each other”, Natalia Martirosyan, Chairwoman of the Armenian committee at the Helsinki Civil Assembly, says. She believes that such meetings need to include talks on ecology, corruption and the development of democracy in the region.

The round-table conference saw a demonstration of a German film made by Ulrich Ashenbrenner called “Kaukasische Rochade” (Caucasian Reshuffle). The film won first prize at the third international festival of short films “Crossing Borders” in Germany. The film depicts real facts: people of two Armenian and Azerbaijani villages decided to switch places during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1989. Armenians lived in the village of Kerkend in Azerbaijan, while the Azerbaijanis lived in the village of Kyzyl-Shafag in Armenia. With the arrival of Armenians the village was renamed Dzunashog. Both communities were a national minority where they lived. They needed to change villages which had a distance of 400 km between them. The main obligation they set for each other was care of their cemeteries. Despite over 20 years of war, the villagers are still faithful to each other and look after the graves. Facts depicted in the “Kaukasische Rochade” show that even a war is not an obstacle to kind relations. Two peoples in a desperate situation found a way out from an atmosphere of hostility, they showed common sense and tolerance.

14.11.2011 / Author: Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively for VK