The subject of “Aravot” online “Face to Face” talk show is discussed by “Heritage” party spokesman David Sanasaryan and “Razminfo” specialized news website coordinator Karen Vrtanesyan.
Aram Abrahamyan – I would like to begin by referring to the statement of the deserter by the name Andranik who has passed to the opponent’s side, as well as to its dissemination by some Armenian websites. How should our society and our media react to it?
Karen Vrtanesyan – First of all, let’s state that Azerbaijan is violating the norms of international law. According to the Geneva Conventions, people in captive shall not be used for any campaign and for any media coverage. Now, secondly, some players appeared in our media field who spread out the Azerbaijani propaganda and actually are playing a role, which during the years of the Cold War, the Americans were calling useful idiots. These are the people in the opponent’s camp who, based on some reasons, were working for the benefit of the opponent’s side. In fact, our media, driven by some morbid curiosity, or suffered from the mania to attract readers, are doing the role of this useful idiot, in other words, they are bringing the opponent’s propaganda and spreading out in our field, a thing that would be very difficult for the Azerbaijanis, if not for their help.
- A. – Anyway, what should be our comment on this desertion?
David Sanasaryan – First of all, I must say that it is also our responsibility that we have someone named Andranik who is with Azerbaijanis. What Karen said is professionally accurately represented. I do not think that the said websites wanted to disseminate Azerbaijani propaganda, they are just counting the clicks.
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- A. – In other words, should not we respond to the fact of desertion at all?
- S. – No. Ignoring is also wrong, the specialist should give proper interpretations, generally, the Armenian side should make this issue clear to the international instances that such a treatment is displayed to the prisoners. Simply, it seems to me that the international instances and Azerbaijanis are laughing at what Andranik is generally saying that it is very good here and so on. The person was oppressed and put in a bad situation. Despite everything, I do not want to discuss this person.
- A. – We are discussing the reaction of our society and the media.
- S. – For years, the public is provided with some messages on how to behave with such materials, there are some successes, but we can see … people do not understand.
- A. – David says, “We bear the responsibility,” do you agree?
- V. – I agree. Personally, I hope that I am not guilty, but generally, our fault is that a sort of negative phenomenon occurred. On the other hand, we can say that this is a unique case or one of the rare cases, I do not think that this has a systemic character. No matter how many internal confrontations occur in Armenia, no matter how many domestic political fights and so on, there are some issues around which the society has a consensus.
The complete discussion below.
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show series are released by the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this broadcast express the opinions of the participants and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, or its Board. This broadcast is made available thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
