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| ARMENIA : Country
Profile |
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Armenia once included Mount Ararat, which biblical tradition identifies as the mountain that Noah's ark rested on after the flood. It was the first country in the world to officially embrace Christianity as its religion (c. 300). |
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In the 6th century b.c.e., Armenians settled in the kingdom of Urarty (the Assyrian name for Ararat), which was in decline. Under Tigrane the Great (fl. 95-55 c.c.e.) the Armenian empire reached its height and became one of the most powerful in Asia, stretching from the Caspian to the Mediterranean Seas. Throughout most of its long history, however, Armenia has been invaded by a succession of empires. Under constant threat of domination by foreign forces, Armenians became both cosmopolitan as well as fierce protectors of their culture and tradition.
Over the centuries Armenia was conquered by Greeks, Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Mongols, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, and Russian. From the 17th century through World War I major portions of Armenia were controlled by their most brutal invader, the Ottoman Turks, under whom they experienced discrimination, religious persecution, heavy taxation, and armed attacks. In response to Armenian nationalist stirrings, the Turks massacred thousands of Armenians in 1894 and 1896. The most horrific massacre took place in April 1915 during World War I, when the Turks ordered the deportation of the Armenian population to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia. According to the majority of historians, between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians were murdered or died of starvation.
The Armenian massacre is considered the first genocide in the 20th century. Turkey denies that a genocide took place, and claims that a much smaller number died in a civil war.
After the Turkey defeat in World War I, the independent Republic of Armenia was established on May 28, 1918, but survived only until Nov. 29, 1920, when it was annexed by the Soviet Army. On March 12, 1922, the Soviets joined Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to form the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became part of the USSR. In 1936, after reorganization, Armenia became a separate constituent republic of the USSR. Since 1988, Armenia has been involved in a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno - Karabagh, to which both lay claim. Also in 1988, a devastating earthquake killed thousands and wreaked, economic havoc.
Armenia declared its independence form the collapsing Soviet Union on Sept 23, 1991.
An Armenian Diaspora has existed throughout the nation's history, and Armenian emigration has been particularly heavy since independence from the Soviet Union. An estimated 60% of the total eight million Armenians worldwide live outside the country, with one million each in the U.S. and Russia. Significant Armenian communities are located in Georgia, France, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Argentina, and Canada.
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Source: Website of Armenia in Washington DC
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| Vital Statistics |
| Full Country Name |
Republic of Armenia |
| Capital |
Yerevan |
| National Day |
September 21 - Independence Day |
| National Flag |
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue,
and orange
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| Area |
total: 29,800 sq km |
| Population |
2,982,904 (July 2005 est.) |
| Language |
Armenian, Russian |
| Religion |
Armenian Apostoli, Christian Yezidi
(Zoroastrian/animist) |
| Currency |
dram (AMD)
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| Head of State |
President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998) |
| Head of Government |
Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May
2000) |
| GDP with Growth Rate |
$13.65 billion (2004 est.),9% (2004 est.) |
| GDP per capita |
purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2004 est.) |
| Annual growth |
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| Inflation rate (consumer prices) |
3.5% (2004 est.) |
| Major Industries |
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
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| Major Trading partners |
Belgium, UK, Israel, Russia, Iran, US, Germany |
| Trade Information |
a) Major Export Products
diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
b) Major Import Products
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
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