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World Guide - Armenia

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conventional long form: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic

Please note - These data have been taken from the CIA World Factbook and are used with permission

Country Profile [CIA World Factbook]
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. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army 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 separatists' control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

Disputes
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; Armenians continue to emigrate, primarily to Russia, seeking employment

Location Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Coordinates 40° 0' N 45° 0' E
Capital Yerevan
Main Cities Gyumri, Vanadzor
Area 29800 km2
Boundaries (km) 1,254 - Azerbaijan-proper 566, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221, Georgia 164, Iran 35, Turkey 268
Coastline (km) 0
Timezone (GMT) 4
Population 2,967,004 (July 2009 est.) (Demographics)
Public Holidays Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Currency dram (AMD)
GDP $17.15 billion (2007 est.) (Economic data)
Main Exports pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
Climate highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Natural Hazards occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Physical Features Aragats Mountains (4,090 m), little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Environmental Agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Flag
Flag for Armenia

Country Map(s)
Map of Armenia

2nd Map of Armenia


These data have been taken from the CIA World Factbook and are used with permission

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