February 8, 2002 - 23:10 AMT
TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY PREPARING MEASURES TO PREVENT RELEASE OF "ARARAT" CANADIAN FILM ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
"Turkey is worried with the coming release of "Ararat" film, which is about the Armenian genocide." The article titled "Turkey against "Ararat" and printed on the first page of "Le Monde" French influential newspaper says this. "Mediamax" agency reports the newspaper writes that tension is growing because of the film of Canadian film director of Armenian origin Atom Egoyan. "Turkey refuses to recognize that Armenians became victims of the genocide. They call Egoyan's film the second "Midnight express," - "Le Monde" writes. (Alan Parker's film called "Midnight express" tells about the terrible life conditions of the prisoners in Turkish prisons. Even 20 years after many people still remember the film, which told negatively on the image of Turkey.) The first shots of "Ararat", where heads of Armenians stuck on rods are shown, has caused the sharpest criticism. "When it became known that Egoyan's film may be nominated for the Cannes international cinema festival, mobilization of public consciousness took place in Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister has already prepared a project of international appearance directed against "Ararat" film" - "Le Monde" writes.