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extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe

      This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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      Armenia

      Introduction

      Armenia

      Background: An Armenian Apostolic Christian country, Armenia was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with 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.

      Geography Armenia

      Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

      Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E

      Map references: Asia

      Area: total: 29,800 sq km water: 1,400 sq km land: 28,400 sq km

      Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

      Land boundaries: total: 1,254 km border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

      Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

      Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

      Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

      Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point:

       Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

      Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina

      Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 2% other: 80% (1998 est.)

      Irrigated land: 2,870 sq km (1998 est.)

      Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

      Environment - current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan and disagreements with Turkey, has 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

      Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,

       Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear

       Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:

       Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

      Geography - note: landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana

       Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

      People Armenia

      Population: 3,330,099 note: Armenia's first census since independence was conducted in October 2001, but official figures have not yet been released (July 2002 est.)

      Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.2% (male 374,597; female 363,115) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 1,104,100; female 1,150,282) 65 years and over: 10.1% (male 141,330; female 196,675) (2002 est.)

      Population growth rate: -0.15% (2002 est.)

      Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

      Death rate: 9.94 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

      Net migration rate: -3.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

      Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 41.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: 71.12 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2002 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.01% (1999 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 500 (1999 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian

      Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989) note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia

      Religions: Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi

       (Zoroastrian/animist) 2%

      Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%

      Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)

      Government Armenia

      Country name: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Republic;

       Armenian Republic local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun

      Government type: republic

      Capital: Yerevan

      Administrative divisions: 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz);

       Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak,

       Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

      Independence: 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

      National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

      Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

      Legal system: based on civil law system

      Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch: chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998) head of Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May 2000) cabinet: elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held 30 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59.5%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 40.5%

      Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Unity Bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20), Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21, ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party 6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequently

      Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

      Political parties and leaders: Agro-Technical People's Group

       (formerly Stability Group) [Hmayk HOVHANISSIAN]; Armenian Communist

       Party or ACP [Vladimir DARBINYAN]; Armenia Democratic Party [Armen

       SARGSIAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF

       [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN,

       chairman]; Constitutional Rights Union [Hrant KHACHATRYAN]; Democratic

       Liberal Party/Ramkvar Azatakyan or DL/RA [Ruben MIRZAKHANIAN, chairman];

       Law and Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN,

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