LocationCaucasus, east of Turkey.
Area29,743 sq km (11,484 sq miles).
Population3 million (UN, 2005).
Population Density100.8 per sq km.
CapitalYerevan.
Population: 1.1 million (UN, 2005).
GovernmentRepublic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
LanguageArmenian. Russian is usually understood, but rarely used; Kurdish is sometimes used in broadcasting as 56,000 Kurds inhabit Armenia.
Religion94% Armenian Apostolic Church, with Catholic
and Protestant communities and a Russian Orthodox minority. Armenia is the oldest Christian nation in the world, its conversion dating from the year AD 301. The Armenian Apostolic Church developed separately from both the Catholic and Orthodox branches of Christianity.
TimeGMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz. European plugs with two round pins are used.
Head of GovernmentSerzh Sarksyan since April 2007.
Head of StatePresident Robert Kocharyan since 1998.
TelephoneCountry code: 374. Outgoing calls to other CIS countries can be made by dialing with the appropriate codes, but only with difficulty. Outgoing international calls to other countries must be made through the operator. Some hotels and many businesses now have satellite links.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to average, limited to Yerevan and the west of the country.
InternetAvailable in large cities and resorts. There are many internet cafes in Yerevan. Some are open 24 hours.
MediaArmenian government oversees national TV and radio. Libel and defamation are punishable by prison terms and journalists have been sentenced under these laws in the past. All print and broadcast media must register with the Justice Ministry. Self-censorship is common.
PostInternational postal services are available to most countries but may be slow and unreliable, although there have been significant improvements in recent years. The main post office is located at Republic Square, Yerevan.
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Press• The main newspapers are
Aravot,
Azg and
Yerkir, all of which are published only in Armenian (Russian editions have been discontinued since the Russian minority in the republic dropped).
• Golos Armenii (
The Voice of Armenia) and
Respublika Armenia survive as the main Russian-language papers.
• Noyan Tapan, an English-language weekly circulated primarily among the foreign missions and small foreign business community, is published by an independent information agency based in Yerevan.
Radio• There are both private radio stations (the first of which was
Hai FM) and national and state-run stations, such as
Public Radio of Armenia.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007
1-2 Jan New Year.
6 Jan Armenian Orthodox Christmas.
8 Mar Women’s Day.
6 Apr Good Friday.
7 Apr Motherhood and Beauty Day.
24 Apr Genocide Memorial Day.
9 May Victory and Peace Day.
28 May First Republic Day.
5 Jul Constitution Day.
21 Sep Independence Day.
7 Dec Earthquake Memorial Day.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve.
2008
1-2 Jan New Year.
6 Jan Armenian Orthodox Christmas.
8 Mar Women’s Day.
21 Mar Good Friday.
7 Apr Motherhood and Beauty Day.
24 Apr Genocide Memorial Day.
9 May Victory and Peace Day.
28 May First Republic Day.
5 Jul Constitution Day.
21 Sep Independence Day.
7 Dec Earthquake Memorial Day.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve.
Contact Information:Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the UK25A Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG, UK
Tel: (020) 7938 5435.
E-mail:
armemb@armenianembassyuk.com or consular@armenianembassyuk.comOpening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800 and 1000-1300 (consular section).
Armenian Tourist Office Representive in the UKSunvil House, 9 Upper Square, Old Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 7BJ, UK
Tel: (020) 8568 4499.
Website:
www.sunvil.co.uk Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the USA2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 319 1976
or 2983 (consular section).
Website:
www.armeniaemb.org Also deals with enquiries from Canada.
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