To respond to the interest provoked by the screening of a film on LGBT rights, the EU Delegation to Armenia and the German Embassy in Yerevan held a press conference on 9 October, highlighting the need to promote human rights awareness related to gender identity and sexual orientation in Armenia.

Traian Hristea, the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, noted that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people constitute a vulnerable group and continue to fall victims of persecution and discrimination. "We understand that among some representatives of the Armenian public the idea of screening a film that relates to this topic has posed concerns. I would like to underline in response that the EU aim is to spread information and encourage awareness in Armenia, thus challenging stereotypes. One of art's important functions is to open discussions and confront prejudice and pre-conceived opinions".

Reiner Morell, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Armenia, added that people who were standing against the presentation of the film certainly had the right to express this opinion. Also everybody who wanted to watch the film should be given the opportunity to do so.

The Ambassadors noted that the idea was to show a film about tolerance, which doesn't offend anyone, doesn't impose opinions and is certainly not propaganda. The Ambassadors explained that  the choice of Puppet Theatre as one of the screening venues was not to show the film to children, but to interested grown-up audience. Puppet Theatre was chosen, since it hosts various events like the Golden Apricot film festival, annual human rights concerts, jazz music and other events for adult audience. The film was successfully shown at the 2012 Berlinale film festival where it won the Audience Award for the Best Feature Film. The Ambassadors refuted rumours that the film has been always screened in venues for children, as it has been released in film festivals and cinemas across Europe.  

The venues in Yerevan, which initially agreed to host the screenings – the Club and the Puppet Theatre – cancelled the events due to public pressure. The organisers affirmed that they will reschedule the film viewing in other public spaces.

Representatives of protesters to the public screenings came to the press conference, but informed they thought it would be a private meeting. Although the EU Delegation and the German Embassy invited them to attend the press conference and then have a meeting, they declined the invitation citing lack of time. The parties agreed to have a meeting on 10 October 2012.

Background:

To promote human rights awareness in Armenia, the German Embassy in Yerevan and the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia are organising a series of screenings of an internationally acclaimed film on the topic of non-discrimination and tolerance. The film screening is part of the EU activities related to Human Rights Day 2012.

The film Parada is a Serbian drama dealing with the delicate subject of LGBT rights in Serbia. The film focuses on an attempt to organise the Belgrade gay pride parade, after a first attempt in 2001 ended violently. The film gained international attention after its release in October 2011. It was successfully shown at the 2012 Berlinale film festival where it won the Audience Award for the Best Feature Film.