RECOGNITION FROM THE BOTH POLES

Receiving awards is always a pleasure. This means an appreciation of our work, distinguishing ourself from the crowd. The awards encourage us to striving for even greater achievements trying to get better. This is especially true for folks employed in creative professions, such as journalists. For us, the penmen, being awarded for individual articles and, in general, for the work done in the newspaper, magazine, or television means a stamp of quality. Looking back on this ten-year voyage aboard the Region Plus, we can proudly say that we have already received our stamp of quality. Collectively, this includes the interest of our audience, reader feedback on individual articles, and the awards.

During this period, the Region Plus has received dozens of awards from individual companies and was elected a brand of the year in the segment. We received the most valuable appreciation of our work from the Azerbaijani state and its President, Ilham Aliyev, who has repeatedly awarded our staff for contributions to the development of the national press. The appreciation received from the state is very important for our development and improvement.

But when we are awarded by another state, this means a different level of responsibility, namely representing the interests of the country as a whole. That is why the award presented to the Region Plus by the Architect of the US Capitol is very symbolic.

Our magazine was awarded the US Flag for our contribution to the coverage of the Azerbaijani-American relations. "At the request of the Congresswoman, Gwen S. Moore, this US Flag was raised over the Capitol in honour of the 10^th anniversary of the Region Plus magazine", reads the commemorative certificate signed by the Architect of the Capitol, Stephen T. Ayers.

The nomination of the Region Plus for the US Flag award was made by an American journalist Peter Tase and approved by the Architect of the Capitol, the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex.

"The Region Plus magazine published in Azerbaijan is a reliable source of analytical information in the Caucasus. Your publication is providing objective evidence on international politics. I was deeply impressed by the high quality of your articles. Therefore, I decided to apply to a member of the House of Representatives, the Honorable Gwen S. Moore, requesting her to award your magazine in honour of your 10^th anniversary, which is important for the international community and the United States", commented his initiative P. Tase.

Since the late 1930s, American flags have been flown over the Capitol and distributed to constituents. An official Flag Office was created in the 1950s. And since 1976, the flags have included a commemorative certificate signed by the Architect of the Capitol. This honorary award is presented by the Congress to notable persons, NGOs, and the media around the world.

Two special Capitol flags traveled to the moon and back in July 1969. Among the cargo sent with the first astronauts to land on the moon were two flags that had flown over the Capitol. Once back on Earth, Speaker of the House John McCormack of Massachusetts and Vice President Spiro Agnew received the flags at a special Joint Meeting of Congress.

The US Flag was awarded to several distinguished US veterans of the wars in Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the participants of the Paralympic Games, schools, media, etc.

The Region Plus is the first organization in Azerbaijan presented this award. Prior to this event, our magazine was awarded the Diploma of the Russian Embassy to Azerbaijan for the coverage of the Azerbaijani-Russian relations.

High appreciation of the Azerbaijani magazine by the two poles of global politics simultaneously is an indication that the Region Plus is able to provide the audience with objective, impartial and high-quality intelligence.

By the way, P. Tase also noted this factor. "I am very grateful to your magazine, as your publications play an important role in the development of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States. Besides, the Region Plus plays a crucial role in the development of friendship and bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan", believes the American journalist.

In fact, this award is a token of appreciation for our contribution to the fight against a rabid Armenian propaganda. President Aliyev has repeatedly urged the Azerbaijani diplomats and journalists to shift from a defensive to an offensive policy in information war. Raising the US flag in honour of the Azerbaijani magazine over the Capitol, where the Armenian lobby has a very strong position, can be considered as confirmation of the fact that the voice of the Region Plus, and Azerbaijan as a whole, sounds louder across the ocean.