A. Saghatelyan says Armenia registers considerable progress in information wars

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS: In the recent period Armenia has registered a considerable progress in information wars, Director of the Media and Information Department of the RA President’s staff Ara Saghatelyan said today at a meeting with journalists. According to him, one must be sober in information wars and act efficiently.

“To implement active operations does not yet mean to act efficiently. Azerbaijan is acting quite actively, but we see that the steps undertaken by it are not always efficient,” A. Saghatelyan said. He gave the example of Ilham Aliyev’s interview given to “Euronews”, as well as the letters of complaint by Azerbaijan after the showing of a film about Karabakh shown by “Euronews”, calling them inefficient operations.

Referring to the war rhetoric by Azerbaijan, A. Saghatelyan noted that we must be ready for information interaction. According to him, in the current stage no statement by Azerbaijan being of more or less seriousness is left unanswered by Armenia.

“We are on the right way. Today a considerable progress has been registered compared with months ago. I can say more; there are issues, in solution of which we advance. That is, from the level of respondent we have passed to a level of dictating information environment,” A. Saghatelyan said. In response to the question whether the information activation on military operations by Azerbaijan is a sign of starting a war, A. Saghatelyan noted that they are artificial and will not take place in near future.

Referring to the bill on making changes in RA Civil and Criminal Codes, by which large fines are defined in case of slandering, A. Saghatelyan noted that it is directed toward the balance of defending the rights of freedom of speech and human dignity.

“The bill is not directed toward closing any newspaper. If it is spoken of defending the dignity right, it does not mean that its aim is the closing of any newspaper. In the end, it does not regard only the press, it concerns also the citizens and TV channels,” A. Saghatelyan said.