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.
Geography
Armenia is located in the
southern Caucasus and is the
smallest of the former Soviet
republics. It is bounded by
Georgia on the north,
Azerbaijan on the east, Iran
on the south, and Turkey on
the west. Contemporary Armenia
is a fraction of the size of
ancient Armenia. A land of
rugged mountains and extinct
volcanoes, its highest point
is Mount Aragats, 13,435 ft
(4,095 m).
Government: Republic
President: Robert Kocharian
(1998)
Prime Minister: Andranik
Markarian (2000)
Area: 11,506 sq mi (29,800
sq km)
Population (2004 est.):
2,991,360 (growth rate:
–0.3%); (Armenian, 93%;
others, Kurds, Ukrainians, and
Russians); birth rate:
11.4/1000; infant mortality
rate: 24.2/1000; life
expectancy: 71.2; density per
sq mi: 260
Capital and largest city:
Yerevan, 1,462,700 (metro.
area), 1,267,600 (city proper)
Other large cities:
Vanadzor, 147,400; Gyumri (Leninakan),
125,300; Abovian, 59,300
Monetary unit: Dram
Language: Armenian 96%,
Russian 2%, other 2%
Ethnicity/race: Armenian
93%, Russian 2%, Azeri 1%,
other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4%
(2002).
Note: as of the end of 1993,
virtually all Azeris had
emigrated from Armenia
Religion: Armenian
Apostolic 94%, other Christian
4%, Yezidi 2%
About The Author
Armine Hareyan - the owner
of the site http://etraveling.blogspot.com
Travel Destination articles
harminka@yahoo.com
