TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

The capital city of Armenia- Yerevan is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world. It has over 20 museums. On Yerevan's Republic Square there are the State Historical Museum, the central post office, The Armenia Marriott, and a healthy array of shops.
Echmiadzin was the Armenia's capital from in 184-340 AD. The most important Orthodox cathedral in the country is situated in this old city. It is the spiritual home of the head of the Armenian Orthodox Church, the Supreme Catholicos. It is a holy place for all Armenians, this is the place where Armenia's conversion to Christianity happened 1,700 years ago.
Tatev Monastery is a natural fortress of rock on the edge of a canyon. The great fortified monastery's main church of St. Paul and St. Peter was built in the 9th century to house important religious relics. Matenadaran Library is the place in Yerevan where historic manuscripts are kept, some of them over 1,000 years old. The impressve building at the front has statues of great Armenian scholars including the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, St Mesrop Mashtots. The display room has examples of ancient Greek texts preserved in Armenian translations, beautifully decorated manuscripts and oddities such as the massive 15th-century Homilies of Moush.

TRAVEL TIPS

The Russian language is almost universally spoken as well, and English is becoming much more common throughout the country. All but essential travel near the border with Azerbaijan is not recommended due to the unresolved dispute over Nagorno Karabakh. This particularly covers the Tavush and Gegharkunic regions, where there is sporadic gunfire. We also advise against travel on the road from Ijevan to Noyemberyan, which passes close to the border and military placements. Crime remains relatively low in Armenia. Some incidents of pickpocketing, mugging, theft from cars and burglary involving foreign nationals are being reported every year. There are occasional incidents of drive-by shootings. Although tourists and westerners were not targeted, there is a risk of being caught up in such events and you should remain vigilant at all times. You should not carry your passport, credit card, travel tickets and money together. We advise you to leave spare cash, passports and valuables in a safe place. We also advise that you take the same personal safety precautions on the street and when using ATMs as you would in the UK. Be particularly careful if using them after dark, especially if you are alone. Check no one has followed you after conducting your business. Opposition parties hold demonstrations in Yerevan and the regions from time to time. Violent incidents can occur during these.
The use of illegal drugs carries stiff administrative and criminal penalties including fines and long prison terms. The penalty for smuggling drugs carries a prison term of between four to ten years.
The local standard of driving is poor. If you plan to drive in Armenia, you should be prepared for drivers who drive recklessly and flout traffic laws. The roads are also in a poor state, especially in the coldest months.
Public transport is often overcrowded and poorly maintained. If you have to travel by train, secure your valuables, do not leave the compartment unattended, and lock the door from the inside.
Armenia is an orthodox Christian country and women can usually dress in normal western-style clothing. Outside the capital people are more conservative and shortened skirts or shorts may attract comment.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in August 2003. But it is still an unacceptable lifestyle for the majority of Armenians. We advise gay or lesbian travellers to exercise discretion on visits to Armenia.
You should refrain from photographing sites such as military bases, equipment and installations in whatever condition. These are considered sensitive areas and visitors have been detained and questioned while attempting to photograph them. You should also be aware of cultural sensitivities when photographing churches and other religious sites. If in doubt seek permission.
Armenia is in an active seismic zone. In 1988 an earthquake, centred near Spitak in the north, killed between 25,000 and 50,000 people, injured thousands and left several cities in ruins. We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Armenia. Medical facilities are generally poor and treatment is not recommended for anything other than minor ailments.
All visitors to Armenia require a visa. It is possible to get one at the airport or the main land border crossings of Meghri and Bagratashen on arrival, or from Armenian representatves abroad. Check the list of Embassies of Armenia to the World or Embassies of Other Nations to Armenia.

BRIEF HISTORY

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 occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

GEOGRAPHY

Area: total: 29,800 sq km; land: 28,400 sq km; water: 1,400 sq km.
Boundaries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey.
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters.
Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley.
Natural Resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, aluminum ore.
Natural Hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts.
Environmental Problems: 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.

PEOPLE

Population: 3,000,000.
Median Age: total: 30.4 years; male: 27.8 years; female: 33.2 years.
Life Expectancy: male: 68.25 years, female: 76.02 years.
Fertility Rate: 1.33 children born per woman.
Major Ethnic Groups: Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3%.
Religions: Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%.
Languages: Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4%.

GOVERNMENT

Type: republic (Republic of Armenia).
Capital City: Yerevan.
Time Difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October. Check current time.
National Holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1991).
Chief of State: president.
Head of Government: Prime Minister.
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister.
Legislative Branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats).

ECONOMY

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 1995-2005. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Armenia's unemployment rate, however, remains high, despite strong economic growth. 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. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector. The government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in 2005, but anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement.
GDP: $14.45 billion, Growth Rate: 13.9%, GDP Per Capita: $4,800.
Unemployment Rate: 31.6%
Agriculture Products: fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock.
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.
Export Commodities: diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy.
Export Partners: Germany 15.6%, Netherlands 13.7%, Belgium 12.8%, Russia 12.2%, Israel 11.5%, US 11.2%, Georgia 4.8%.
Import Commodities: natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds.
Import Partners: Russia 13.5%, Belgium 8%, Germany 7.9%, Ukraine 7%, Turkmenistan 6.3%, US 6.2%, Israel 5.8%, Iran 5%, Romania 4.2%.
Currency: Dram (AMD). Check current rate of exchange.

TRANSPORT

Airports: 11
Roadways: 7,633 km
Railways: 845 km.