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Basic Facts
Location: Northeast of Turkey, North of Iran, South of Georgia, West of Azerbaijan
Area: 29,800 sq. km.
Population: appx. 3 million
Capital: Yerevan
Local Time: GMT+4.0 hrs
Climate: Highland continental - hot summers, cold winters
Historical highlights
Armenians are an ancient people who trace their roots back to the early part of the first millennium B.C. For centuries, Armenia was an independent nation, located primarily in the eastern regions of present-day Turkey. The greatest Armenian king, Tigran II, who ruled from 95 to 55 B.C., governed a realm that extended from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. But Tigran was eventually overwhelmed by the Romans and between the 4th and 19th centuries, Armenia became a coveted territory for the Persians, the Byzantines, the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols, and, more recently, the Ottomans. For a brief period, from 1918 to 1920, it was again an independent republic, however, in 1922, Armenia became part of the Trans-Caucasian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1936, it became the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic until the collapse of Soviet Union, and Armenia re-declared its independence on September 21, 1991.
Economy
Until its independence in 1991, Armenia's economy was based largely on industrial chemicals, electronic products, machinery, processed food, synthetic rubber, and textiles, and was highly dependent on outside resources. Agriculture accounted for only 20% of net material products and 10% of employment prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Armenian mines produce copper, zinc, gold, and lead. The vast majority of energy is produced with imported fuel, including gas and nuclear fuel from Russia. Due to the 1988 earthquake, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the closure of both the Azeri and Turkish borders in 1992-93, GDP fell nearly 60% from its 1989 levels and the national currency, the dram, suffered from hyperinflation for the first few years after its introduction in 1993.
Nevertheless, the Government of Armenia has been able to carry out economic reforms that paid off in terms of dramatically lowering inflation and maintaining steady growth. Armenia has registered strong economic growth since 1995 and inflation has been negligible for the past several years. New sectors, such as precious stone processing and jewelry making, information and communication technology, and tourism are beginning to supplement more traditional sectors of the economy. This steady economic progress was possible thanks to support from international institutions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank,the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and other international financial institutions (IFIs) and foreign countries have extended considerable grants and loans. The loans are targeted at reducing the budget deficit; stabilizing the local currency; developing the private sector; improving the energy, agriculture, food processing, transportation, health, and education sectors; and ongoing rehabilitation work in the earthquake-affected zones.
Culture
Over the years Armenia has developed a unique culture that reflects both its ancient traditions and its modern mentality. Many aspects of Armenian culture are based on the geography, literature, art, dance, and music of the people. Key influences on Armenian culture include Christianity and the invention of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrop Mashtots, which provided additional stimuli for the development of literary and artistic traditions. Armenian culture has strong influences from both its Eastern neighbors, as well as an underlying influence from Europe which results in a culture similar to and yet distinct from bordering countries such as Russia, Georgia, and Iran as well as Mediterranean nations such as Greece, and Italy.
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To get more information about Armenia please visit http://www.armeniainfo.am |
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