YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "Though no great pressures were exerted from Turkish side during the shooting of the film Lark Farm, nevertheless, negative responses were inevitable," Italian film director Paolo Taviani reported at the press conference organized in Yerevan. In his words, Turkish newspapers have repeatedly touched upon this subject mentioning that within the framework of the Council of Europe shooting of a film is financed, which is against Turkey's policy. In P. Taviani's words, representatives of Turkish Foreign Ministry had also applied to the Italian Minister of Culture asking why they permitted shooting of a film, which is aimed against the Turkish people. In response to the Turkish side they said that "art is free in Italy." "Italy had Fascism, which was condemned, Germany had Nazism, which, though with difficulty, nevertheless, was condemned. Then why the Turkish government cannot find strength to condemn Young Turks' crime?" P. Taviani said. He expressed the hope that years later the Lark Farm will be also shown in Turkey. Film producer Gracia Volpi said that they had applied to the European Commission to get assistance for shooting the film. Only Turkey was against during the discussions, which, of course, did not impede them from providing financial assistance.

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