On May 11, "Digital Diplomacy: Prospects and Challenges" International Conference organized by Diplomatic School of MFA started in Yerevan.

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had an opening address at the Conference in which he particularly said:

"Digital diplomacy, using technological achievements and opportunities, creates additional platform for diplomats for efficient implementation of their objectives, as well as in accountability to our publics. Rapid reaction to pressing developments and immediate response to ever-increasing queries from citizens are becoming prior responsibilities of diplomatic service nowadays.

Widely using opportunities created by information technologies, at the same time, we should take into account the sensitivity and confidential nature of the available information and the possible impact of information provided by us and our statements on interstate relations and human destinies. Therefore, as much as new times bring new opportunities, they also pose previously unknown challenges."

"Foreign Ministry of Armenia actively uses the opportunities created by Digital Diplomacy and in this regard some results have been achieved.

In addition to the exhaustive quadrilingual official website, profiles of the Foreign Ministry are quite active in social networks. Back in 2008 Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the first among government structures to open its official channel in YouTube uploading videos related to its activity. It was also the first to create its official pages in Facebook and Twitter, which gives additional publicity to our activity and, at the same time, is an interactive platform for communication with those who are interested in our activities", stressed the Foreign Minister of Armenia.

"Diplomatic services can be more successful in serving their countries' national interest if they make most of the advancement of technologies. It is the mission of diplomatic personnel training institutions - diplomatic academies, schools to educate and to continuously update the professional knowledge of serving diplomats for the implementation of Digital Diplomacy.

We commend this initiative of the Diplomatic School of Armenia to invite leading experts from about 25 countries to discuss Digital Diplomacy and issues related to its development.

We appreciate that the European Union supported this Conference to be held, as well as the support the EU has rendered to the Diplomatic School since its establishment', underscored the Foreign Minister Nalbandian.

"This conference is a testimony to the fact that the Diplomatic School of Armenia and its colleagues have picked a topic that is of interest for many of us engaged in the field of diplomacy and international relations. I am confident that you will have interesting discussions which will give an opportunity to deepen our knowledges in the field of Digital Diplomacy.

And knowledge is indeed power and we look forward to more power generated from all those who work for peace and prosperity of all our nations", said Edward Nalbandian.

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