Armenia...

GARINE MELIKIAN
STAFF WRITER

-was the first to declare itself a Christian nation in 301 A.D. (we have always fought very hard to hold onto our identity as Christians)

-has been a part of the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman Empires

-is located in Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey (40 00 N, 45 00 E)

-consists of an area of 29,800 sq km of which 28,400 sq km is land and 1,400 sq km is water

-borders Azerbaijan-proper, Azerbaijan-Nakhichevan exclave, Geor- gia, Iran, Turkey

-holds deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina

-is landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains

-has the largest lake in this area, Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan)

-has a population of 2,982,904 (July 2005 est.)

-is composed of 11 provinces (marzer, singular-marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark’unik’, Kotayk’, Lori, Shirak, Syunik’, Tavush, Vayots’ Dzor, and Yerevan

-gained independence on September 21, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

-has as its current chief of state President Robert Kocharian (since March 30, 1998)

-has as its head of government Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan (since May 12, 2000)

-GDP is $13.65 billion (2004 est.) (and growing by 9% annually)

-exports $850 million to the following countries: Belgium 16.8%, Israel 14.3%, Russia 14.2%, Germany 11.4%, Iran 9.9%, US 7.8%, Nether lands 5.8% (2004)

-life expectancy: 71.23 years

-has had an alphabet since 405 A.D.

-has its own national currency, the dram: 444 drams equals 1 dollar, 536 drams per euro

-has the best folk-hero in Sasoondtzi David (David of Sassoon)
(recognized as the national folktale)