]! ^! Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. 
]" ^" Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey ^# 40 00 N, 45 00 E ^$ Asia ^% `! 29,800 sq km `" 28,400 sq km `# 1,400 sq km ^& slightly smaller than Maryland ^' `! 1,254 km `U Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km ^( 0 km (landlocked) ^) none (landlocked) ^* highland continental, hot summers, cold winters ^+ Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley ^, `% Debed River 400 m `& Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m ^- small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina ^. `' 17.55% `( 2.3% `) 80.15% (2001) ^/ 2,870 sq km (1998 est.) ^0 occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts ^1 soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone _J `K Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands `L Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants ^2 landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range 
]# ^3 2,982,904 (July 2005 est.) ^4 `* 21.6% (male 339,453/female 305,214) `+ 67.5% (male 938,734/female 1,074,240) `, 10.9% (male 131,519/female 193,744) (2005 est.) ^5 `! 30.07 years `- 27.45 years `. 32.84 years (2005 est.) ^6 -0.25% (2005 est.) ^7 11.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) ^8 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) ^9 -6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) ^: `/ 1.17 male(s)/female `0 1.11 male(s)/female `+ 0.87 male(s)/female `, 0.68 male(s)/female `1 0.9 male(s)/female (2005 est.) ^; `! 23.28 deaths/1,000 live births `- 28.51 deaths/1,000 live births `. 17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) ^< `1 71.55 years `- 67.97 years `. 75.75 years (2005 est.) ^= 1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.) ^> 0.1% (2003 est.) ^? 2,600 (2003 est.) ^@ less than 200 (2003 est.) ^A `2 Armenian(s) `3 Armenian ^B Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census) ^C Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3% ^D Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census) ^E `M age 15 and over can read and write `1 98.6% `- 99.4% `. 98% (2003 est.) 
]$ ^F `4 Republic of Armenia `5 Armenia `V Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun `W Hayastan `X Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic ^H republic ^I Yerevan ^J 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan ^K 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) ^L Independence Day, 21 September (1991) ^M adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995 ^N based on civil law system ^O 18 years of age; universal ^P `6 President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998) `7 Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May 2000) `8 Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister `9 president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2008); prime minister appointed by the president; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program `: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5% ^Q unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 75 members elected by party list, 56 by direct vote) `9 last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of 2007) note: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by party - Republican Party 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11, National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party change frequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselves independent ^R Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court) ^S Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party [Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party, National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and the People's Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Albert BAZEYAN and Aram SARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN] ^T Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN] ^U BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO ^V `N Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN `O 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 `P [1] (202) 319-1976 `Q [1] (202) 319-2982 `R Los Angeles ^W `N Ambassador John M. EVANS `Z 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019 `[ American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020 `P [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-117, 542-132, 524-661, 527-001, 524-840 `Q [374](1) 520-800 ^X three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange 
]% ^Y Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2003. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize the local currency (the dram), and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector. ^Z $13.65 billion (2004 est.) ^[ 9% (2004 est.) ^\ purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2004 est.) ^] `; 22.9% `< 36.1% `= 41.1% (2004 est.) ^^ 1.4 million (2001) ^_ agriculture 45%, industry 25%, services 30% (2002 est.) ^` 30% (2003 est.) ^a 50% (2002 est.) _! `> 2.3% `? 46.2% (1999) _d 44.4 (1996) _" 3.5% (2004 est.) _P 19.8% of GDP (2004 est.) _# `@ $428.1 million `A $491.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.) _$ fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock _% diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy _& 15% (2002 est.) _' 6.492 billion kWh (2002) _( 5.797 billion kWh (2002) _) 704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2002) _* 463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2002) _+ 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) _, 5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.) _- NA _. NA _S 0 cu m (2001 est.) _T 1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.) _U 0 cu m (2001 est.) _V 1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.) _X $-240.4 million (2004 est.) _/ $850 million f.o.b. (2004 est.) _0 diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy _1 Belgium 18%, Israel 15.3%, Germany 13.3%, Russia 12.5%, US 8.1%, Netherlands 7.2%, Iran 5.5%, Georgia 4.3%, UAE 4% (2004) _2 $1.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) _3 natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds _4 Russia 11.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Israel 8.4%, US 7.6%, Iran 7.1%, UAE 6.1%, Ukraine 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, Germany 5.2%, Georgia 4.6%, France 4.5% (2004) _Y $555 million (2004 est.) _5 $905 million (June 2001) _6 ODA $170 million (2000) _7 dram (AMD) _8 drams per US dollar - 533.45 (2004), 578.76 (2003), 573.35 (2002), 555.08 (2001), 539.53 (2000) _9 calendar year 
]& _: 562,600 (2003) _; 114,400 (2003) _< `B system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion `C the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service) `D country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (2000) _= AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998) _> 3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998) _? .am _@ 2,206 (2004) _A 150,000 (2003) 
]' _e `! 845 km `e 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified) note: some lines are out of service (2004) _B `! 8,431 km `E 8,161 km (includes 7,567 km of expressways) `F 270 km (2002) _[ gas 1,871 km (2004) _D 16 (2004 est.) _E `! 11 `] 2 2,438 to 3,047: 1 `^ 5 `_ 3 (2004 est.) _L `! 5 `^ 2 `_ 2 `T 1 (2004 est.) 
]( _F Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force _M 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (May 2004) _] males age 18-49: 722,836 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 18-49: 551,938 (2005 est.) _^ `` 31,774 (2005 est.) _N $135 million (FY01) _O 6.5% (FY01) 
]) _H Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy; tens of thousands of Armenians emigrate, primarily to Russia, to seek employment _c `d 236,306 (Azerbaijan) IDPs: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004) _I illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe 