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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has once again underscored that the brandy produced in Armenia cannot be designated as ‘cognac’ like it has been colloquially called.
Cognac, a variety of brandy named after the commune of Cognac, France, falls under French appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) designation, with production methods and naming required to meet certain legal requirements. Among the specified grapes, Ugni blanc, known locally as Saint-Émilion, is most widely used.
Pashinyan said he meant this standardization when he said that cognac can’t be produced in Armenia yesterday in parliament.
“Champagne cannot be made in Armenia because champagne is produced only from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France. That’s why there is prosecco, which is a sparkling wine,” the PM added at the Cabinet meeting.
Pashinyan highlighted in parliament on October 22 that Armenia’s economy must comply with international standards.
“I said back in 2018 that we need to meet the standards. Listen, why should I, for example, go to an international organization or during an international visit, and a reputable international manufacturer asks to meet me, I might think they want to invest, but they come and say, ‘Our product is being counterfeited in your country.’ What am I supposed to do?” said Pashinyan.
According to him, one of Armenia’s problems is that some productions are based not on quality or legality but on mere formal names, which damages the country’s reputation.