Category: 2022

Delegation of United States European Command discuss regional security issues at MoD Armenia

 21:18,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. On January 19, a delegation led by Brigadier General Edward Vaughan, Deputy Director for Partnering, Security Cooperation, and Space Capabilities at United States European Command, arrived in Armenia on a two-day working visit.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MoD Armenia, Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan received the delegation. The meeting was also attended by US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Lynne Tracey. The interlocutors discussed issues related to regional security, Armenian-American bilateral cooperation in the field of defense. The parties expressed readiness to continue the development of cooperation within the framework of existing programs, to initiate new directions of cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Major General Arakel Martikyan also received the delegation. During the discussions on the Armenian-American military cooperation, Major General Martikyan highlighted the cooperation in the fields of peacekeeping, military medicine and education, and suggested making new efforts to develop that cooperation. The American side made a number of proposals, including rehabilitation programs for wounded soldiers and the development of emergency response systems.

During the visit, the delegation led by Brigadier General Edward Vaughan visited the peacekeeping brigade of the Armenian Ministry of Defense, took part in the welcoming ceremony of the Armenian peacekeepers who had recently returned from Kosovo. The delegation visited the National Defense Research University of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the Central Clinical Military Hospital of the Ministry of Defense, where the ceremony of handing over the technical equipment of the field hospital acquired with the support of the USA took place.

 12:07,

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The preservation of geopolitical subjectivity of Artsakh is of vital importance for the ministry of foreign affairs of the Republic, Artsakh’s Foreign Minister Davit Babayan said during a press conference today.

“We must show the world that Artsakh exists, that we are controlling our fate, and this is very important for both the world to know and the important power centers to have a right idea about the situation. We must be guided by all this and continue our policy”, the FM said.

 12:08,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. 65 of 70 lawmakers participating in the vote confirmed Hovhannes Khachatryan to the position of Vice Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia.

Another 5 lawmakers voted against.

 12:38,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure again officially announced that Flyone Armenia airline will launch the Yerevan-Istanbul flights on February 2, Anadolu reports.

Flyone Armenia was granted a permit for operating three roundtrip flights per week from Yerevan to Istanbul. 

The Turkish Pegasus airline will also operate the route, again three times per week.

 12:43,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenian SPRING PR-company has been announced among the winners of WCFA Davos Digital PR Awards as the Best Digital PR Project for "Milk is Love" communication campaign carried out jointly with "Yeremyan Projects".
The aim of the campaign was to promote a culture of consuming milk among Armenians, to raise awareness on the benefits of dairy products and to spread a word on food security challenges, emphasizing the importance of purchasing natural products.

The "Milk is love" campaign was launched in May 2020, during the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, when people were isolated in their homes, many companies were temporarily closed, and the media moved to remote work. Consumer behavior as well as attitudes towards organizations, products and services in different industries, requirements and expectations were changing.  At that very moment "Yeremyan Products" brand entered the mass market with the "Milk is love" campaign.

Tatevik Simonyan, the co-founder and director of the international projects of SPRING PR, underlining the characteristics of digital campaigns, notes, “In times of crisis many organizations have undergone complex and important transformations abandoning tried and tested business approaches that have justified themselves for many years.  Modern communication technologies, in their turn, faced radical changes by developing, becoming more complex and attracting new audiences. Communication professionals were among the first who responded to new circumstances, starting to look for new approaches, more efficient ways and formats of communicating with various target groups. We have implemented the “Milk is love” communication campaign by using several digital tools, innovative and interesting methods. The campaign was special as soon as people were seeking love, warmth and positive energy those days and our main goal was to deliver it to them. That is why we chose the warm slogan – “Milk is love”. The international jury approved the campaign, actively discussed it, and described it as a project with an interesting strategy that conveys care and warmth. We are grateful to our international colleagues for the high recognition.” 

The "Milk is Love" campaign was a new and unique approach of sustainable positioning in the context of the diverse and highly competitive Armenian dairy products market. "Milk is Love" campaign was inspired by the famous Got Milk? social campaign (USA, 1993).

Davit Yeremyan, Director General of Yeremyan Projects”, says, “In March, 2020, when restaurants were closed due to the pandemic, we used the window of opportunity and focused all our potential on agricultural projects. In a very short time, in just one month we entered a highly competitive market with our Yeremyan products brand presenting to our consumers high-quality and healthy dairy foods produced on our farms and primarily designed for our restaurants. Parallelly we successfully implemented a public awareness campaign on benefits of milk consumption. We got quite positive feedback from our consumers. And I am happy and proud that our joint effort with our long-standing partner – SPRING PR, has been highly appreciated by the international community. "

 

SPRING PR has also received the Communication 4 Future Davos Awards 2017 for the title "Pro Bono of the Future" for its Corporate Social Responsibility Project – "Lets Care, Armenia – World Water Day".

WCFA President Maxim Behar says: "This is the first edition of Davos Awards dedicated particularly on digital business and the competition was really very high. This is proof that all PR business goes online and I do believe that there will be no way back. WCFA Jury, headed by the well known social media expert Rui Martins, was combined of experienced professionals from all continents and it makes the win of SPRING PR much more valuable. I sincerely congratulate my Armenian colleagues and wish them many more wins of clients, projects, talents and – of course – awards.

The Davos Digital PR Awards recognize unique and valuable campaigns and exceptional professional work by public relations and communications professionals from around the world. Best Digital PR Project award gives a high recognition to the most memorable digital campaigns that are shifting consumers, and other key audiences' perspectives on the product, breaking stereotypes and forming new attitudes.

The most outstanding projects launched nationwide between January 2020 and July 2021 were considered in three categories – Best Digital PR Project, Best Digital PR Company, Digital PR Guru of 2021 – in the first edition of Davos Digital PR Awards. SPRING PR is the gold winner of the Best Digital PR Project. Entries were received from Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Russia, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.

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SPRING PR is an award-winning PR and research company founded in 2009 specializing in the spheres of strategic communications, reputation management, events’ organization and researches. The company cooperates with a number of local and international large, medium and small enterprises, state institutions, non-governmental and charitable organizations. 

SPRING PR is a part of global PR community, with professional involvement in such reputable international organizations as the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). 

Over the years, SPRING PR and its team have received top awards and recognition, including C4F Davos Awards (Communication for Future Davos Awards), IPRA Golden World Awards, Eventiada IPRA Golden World Awards.  

It is worth noting that in 2019, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of SPRING PR, Yerevan hosted the biggest event in the sphere of PR – Golden World Awards 2019 of the International PR Association (IPRA) and the Gala Dinner. About 120 experts, representatives of state agencies, executive officers of big companies, communication specialists from more than 50 countries arrived in Armenia.  

In June 2020, SPRING PR signed two other memorandums of collaboration with its internationalpartners Stratcomm Africa, Jasper Alliance London Limited, European M3 Communications Group. Inc,  and the  GeorgianPR Consulting Group.  

In 2021 for the first time in the history of Armenian PR companies, SPRING PR has been announced among the winners of “IPRA Golden World Awards – 2021” which is considered the Oscar of the field.

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WCFA is first about individuals who have the ability to think global, act global. Every such individual is an ambassador who not only represents her/his region or organization on this truly global platform but also aspires to be the frontrunner in the development of the global communication culture. WCFA aims to contribute actively to the development of the modern public communications worldwide. 

Key areas of activity 

∙ Forming a cross-border and cross-cultural community of professionals and increasing its strong global influence via an agenda focused on communications, media, public relations, branding and leadership. 

∙ Proceeding from the idea of communication as a key factor in the development of the humanity and aiming to intensify the the research of future specifics: new behaviour models, educational models, recognition and influence. 

∙ Supporting young professionals by financing cross-national internships for students from communications schools. 

∙ Supporting the annual World Forum "Communication on Top" in Davos as a platform for discussion that shapes the global communications agenda and foresees the influence of different media channels on society, business and the communications industry.

 14:02,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. We will continue to actively and persistently defend the interests of Artsakh, our independence and sovereignty, strengthen the pan-Armenian unity – the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora unity, with all means, Foreign Minister of Artsakh Davit Babayan told reporters today.

He presented a brief report about the 2021 activity of the ministry and outlined their upcoming actions.

According to the minister, the international recognition of Artsakh, the establishment and development of ties with different countries and their entities, the deepening of cooperation with the communities and organizations of the Armenian Diaspora, the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and the preservation of Artsakh’s geopolitical subjectivity will be the main activity directions of the foreign ministry.

As for the foreign policy strategy of 2022, the minister said they are going to run an “initiating, courageous and targeted foreign policy” based on the ministry’s slogan “acting a lot, talking less”.

 14:24,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Rustam Badasyan spoke in favor of the border with Turkey being opened, stating that “an open border is better than a closed border.”

“We can speak with axiomatic truths,” Badasyan told reporters. “Naturally, a border being open is better than a border being closed. I think this is undisputable because you can never have the kind of economic activity and turnover during closed borders which you can have during open borders,” he said.

Badasyan dismissed a reporter’s question on whether or not there is a risk of Turkish capital’s inflow into Armenia. He said that this hypothetical scenario shouldn’t be considered as a risk. “Naturally, the representation of major economies in countries with smaller economies is more noticeable everywhere in the world, so what, should we live in fears?” Badasyan said.

 15:00,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. State Revenue Committee Chairman Rustam Badasyan presented the functions of the Armenian customs checkpoints which are located on the section of the Azerbaijani-controlled road and spoke about the effectiveness of the alternative road.

Speaking to reporters, Badasyan noted that Armenian customs officers are carrying out certain functions on the Azerbaijani-controlled section of the Goris-Kapan road because theoretically Iranian cargo vehicles could travel via that part.

“Because Armenian vehicles haven’t passed through that section at all, no functions are carried out in that regard. If there is a theoretical possibility that vehicles could pass there, then customs control must be enforced,” he said.

Badasyan said that Iranian cargo vehicles are mostly using the Syunik alternative road. He noted that there are some inconveniences for the drivers, and this has been discussed with Iranian colleagues. He said the alternative road has the same problems which the Goris-Kapan road has.

“In my assessment the cargo vehicles are passing, moreover the largest vehicles. I think if you’d follow the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, it is also speaking about a new road, and when commissioned the existing curvy roads will be bypassed near the village of Ltsen.”

 15:05,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh has issued a statement on the 32^nd anniversary of the anti-Armenian pogroms in Baku.

ARMENPRESS presents the text of the statement:

“32 years ago, on January 13-19, 1990 a systematic and mass massacre of the Armenian population was carried out in Baku with apparent permission and support of the Azerbaijani authorities. Hundreds of Armenians were killed, dispossessed and hundreds of thousands of Armenians tortured during the week-long atrocities.

Armenian population of Baku and other cities were deported under the direct threat of physical existence, and found refuge in Artsakh, Armenia and other countries of the world without receiving international status and support. Over the years, Armenian cultural heritage in those areas was vandalized and desecrated, their historical value and significance were distorted by the Azerbaijani authorities being adapted to their political expediencies. 

The realization, encouragement and glorification of the Armenian massacres by the Azerbaijani authorities and unfortunately by the Azerbaijani society is systematic, large-scale and has a clear chronology: in 1905 and 1918 – the massacres in Baku, February, 1988 – Sumgait and in November of the same year in Gandzak-Kirovabad,1990s – again in Baku, Maragha, 2004 – the glorification of Ramil Safarov who axed Gurgen Margaryan, the killings of civiliansand the torture of the Armenian military during April 2026 war, and Azerbaijani-Turkish aggressionof 2020, are undeniable evidence of the systematic policy of Armenian massacres and its consequences.

Due to the poisoning of the society by the authorities for years, intolerance, hatred against and murder of Armenians, vandalism against Armenian cultural heritage and desecration of monuments in Azerbaijan have become not only a state but a national policy. This is a fact against which the urgency of taking measures is also enshrined in the decision of the UN International Court of Justice.

Under the false slogans of peace building in the region, Azerbaijani authorities continue to commit widespread violations of the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh creating an atmosphere of fear, despair, disrupting normal life in Artsakh, isolating the people of Artsakh from the world.

There is ample material documenting the crimes committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenians, it only takes an impartial and courageous eye to see it all and give a proper assessment. Unfortunately, these crimes have not received a clear legal assessment from the international community. This impunity is one of the focal reasons why Azerbaijan allows itself grossly violate the norms of international law, to speak with hatred about an entire nation without any fear it may be held accountable.

Guided by the most fundamental principle of the universality of human rights, pursuing the unconditional observance of this principle and restoration of justice, we will continue to demand the condemnation of the crimes against Armenians and the prevention of new crimes”.

 15:31,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. The trial of the former minister of defense Davit Tonoyan and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces General Artak Davtyan began at the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction.

Tonoyan, Davtyan and several others face corruption charges.

They deny wrongdoing.

They are charged with fraud and embezzlement that cost the state almost 2.3 billion drams ($4.7 million) in what authorities said was a deliberate acquisition of outdated rockets for the military.