Azerbaijani media confirm reports on Bulbuloglu's 'talks'

The Azerbaijani news agency Turan confirmed Tuesday Yerkramas Russian-Armenian newspaper's recent report saying that Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia conducts "talks" with ethnic Azerbaijani actors at Moscow theatres, threatening them with criminal liability in case of agreeing to star in "Interrupted Song", the first film about the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, the spokesman of the film making group has said.

An Azerbaijani actor who played in several scenes recently refused to continue participation in the project.

"Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian propaganda seems to produce positive results, at least as much as the 'Interrupted Song' was concerned," Turan says, confirming thereby that the hatred propaganda is being conducted on the state level in the person of the Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu.

As the film's general producer Ashot Poghosyan says, the ambassador's statements on "people's democracy" with Armenia sound simply ridiculous after all this.

The film makers consider the Azerbaijani ambassador's recent step an extreme manifestation of intolerance towards the Armenian and Armenia, and mention with regret that such attitude is becoming predominant in the Azerbaijani top circles.

Notwithstanding Azerbaijan's efforts, an Azerbaijani actor will be invited to play in the film.

It's noteworthy that within a week after its launch, the film's official website - www.prervannaya-pesnya.ru   - had 60,729 visitors, with 20,598 reported to be Azerbaijanis.

Despite Azerbaijan's fruitless attempts to hamper the film-making activities, the film makers still hope for an open dialogue and mutual understanding. They are also willing to cooperate with all those interested in the project.

The premier screening of the film is scheduled in Moscow late in May.