On March 2, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan participated in the ceremony dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of Azg Daily.

In his opening speech, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism of Yerevan State University Naghash Martirosyan introduced the guests of honor and stressed that what had brought all of them together was the love for, faith in and special attitude towards Azg Daily. “Azg Daily has always been a trusted newspaper. We are celebrating the newspaper’s 25^th anniversary in 2016, the year in which we Armenians are celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Independence of the Artsakh Republic and the 25^th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia. Hakob Avetikyan’s Azg Daily assures that it has a special responsibility for print speech,” he noted.

Adviser to the Speaker of the RA National Assembly Hrayr Zolyan read the congratulatory message of Galust Sahakyan on the occasion of the newspaper’s anniversary.

RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan cordially congratulated founding editor-in-chief of Azg Daily Hakob Avetikyan and the editorial staff on the occasion of the anniversary. “Today marks the 25^th anniversary of Azg Daily, and it is a celebration for all Armenian media outlets. I would like to cordially congratulate you all on this beautiful anniversary and wish you more anniversaries in the years to come. It turns out that Azg Daily is older than the independence of Armenia. Armenia declared its independence on September 21^st, but Azg Daily was established on February 16^th. This means that Diaspora Armenians rose to their feet, stirred, got excited and took action for the state that had declared its independence. It was very difficult for Azg Daily to take its first steps since there was only two hours of electricity in Armenia, which was in a war and in an energy crisis. Azg Daily had become a newspaper that consoled us and gave us soul food that we would wait for every day. I believe the name of the newspaper, Azg (Nation) is very symbolic. The newspaper grew along with our state, remained rightful and unwavering. For us, Azg Daily plays a special role since it became the most brilliant platform for interpreting Armenia-Diaspora relations and for indicating the paths to overcome our challenges and difficulties,” Hranush Hakobyan emphasized.

The minister awarded the Hakob Meghapart Medal of the RA Ministry of Diaspora to Hakob Avetikyan.

The congratulatory message of the RA Minister of Culture and the order of the Rector of Yerevan State University to grant the Gold Commemorative Medal of Yerevan State University to Hakob Avetikyan were read during the ceremony.

President of the Union of Journalists of Armenia Astghik Gevorgyan said she had always been the newspaper’s loyal reader. “Azg newspaper is a newspaper that is of high quality and takes responsibility. You will not find any gossip or imprecise information. Hakob Avetikyan has received all of our awards. He has also received all of our gold medals. I am very happy to be Avetikyan’s contemporary,” she added.

Publisher and editor of California Courier Weekly Harut Sassounian also cordially expressed congratulatory remarks, stressed that he had learned a lot from Hakob Avetikyan years ago and attached importance to the newspaper. “This newspaper is published in pure Armenian, and that is a great gift for our homeland,” he said.

The speakers attached importance to the pro-Armenian activities of the first independent daily newspaper of the Republic of Armenia.