This article is about the modern-day republic. For other uses see Armenia (disambiguation). Republic of Armenia Hayastani Hanrapetutyun Flag Coat of arms Anthem:  (Armenian) Mer Hayrenik   (transcription) "Our Fatherland" Capital (and largest city) Yerevan 4011N 4431E / 40.183N 44.517E / 40.183; 44.517 Official language(s) Armenian1 Ethnic groups  97.9% Armenian 1.3% Yazidis 0.5% Russian 0.3% others.2 Demonym Armenian Government Presidential republic3  -  President Serzh Sargsyan  -  Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan  -  Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan Formation and independence  -  Traditional date August 11th 2492 BC   -  Nairi 1200 BC   -  Kingdom of Ararat 840s BC   -  Orontid Dynasty 560 BC   -  Kingdom of Armenia formed 190 BC   -  Democratic Republic of Armenia established 28 May 1918   -  Independence from the Soviet Union Declared Recognised Finalised 23 August 1990 21 September 1991 25 December 1991  Area  -  Total 29743 km2 (141st) 11484 sq mi   -  Water (%) 4.714 Population  -  2010 estimate 326220056 (134th)  -  Density 108.4/km2 (99th) 280.7/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2010 estimate  -  Total $16.858 billion7   -  Per capita $51107  GDP (nominal) 2010 estimate  -  Total $9.389 billion7   -  Per capita $28467  Gini (2006) 378 (medium)  HDI (2010) 0.6959 (high) (76th) Currency Dram (.) (AMD) Time zone UTC (UTC+4)  -  Summer (DST) DST (UTC+5) Drives on the Right ISO 3166 code AM Internet TLD .am Calling code 374 Patron saint St. Bartholomew the Apostle St. Gregory the Illuminator St. Jude the Apostle Virgin Mary

Armenia (i /rmini/; Armenian: transliterated Hayastan IPA: hjstn) officially the Republic of Armenia ( Hayastani Hanrapetutyun hjstni hnptutjun) is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe10 it is bordered by Turkey to the west Georgia to the north the de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan to the east and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.

A former republic of the Soviet Union Armenia is a unitary multiparty democratic nation-state with an ancient and historic cultural heritage. The Kingdom of Armenia became the first state to adopt Christianity as its religion11 in the early years of the 4th century (the traditional date is 301).12 The modern Republic of Armenia recognizes the Armenian Apostolic Church as the national church of Armenia although the republic has separation of church and state.13

Armenia is a member of more than 40 international organisations including the United Nations the Council of Europe the Asian Development Bank the Commonwealth of Independent States the World Trade Organization World Customs Organization the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and La Francophonie. It is a member of the CSTO military alliance and also participates in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. In 2004 its forces joined KFOR a NATO-led international force in Kosovo. It is also an observer member of the Eurasian Economic Community and the Non-Aligned Movement. The country is an emerging democracy and is currently in a negotiation process with the European Union of which it may become an Associate Member in the near future.14151617 The Government of Armenia holds European integration as a key priority in its foreign policy as it is considered a European country by the European Union.181920212223 Contents 1 Etymology of name 2 History 2.1 Antiquity 2.2 Middle Ages 2.3 Early Modern era 2.4 World War I and the Armenian Genocide 2.5 Democratic Republic of Armenia (DRA) 2.6 Soviet Armenia 2.7 Restoration of independence 3 Geography 3.1 Location 3.2 Topography 3.3 Environment 3.4 Climate 4 Government and politics 4.1 Foreign relations 4.2 Human rights 4.3 Military 4.4 Administrative divisions 5 Economy 6 Demographics 6.1 Cities 6.2 Diaspora 6.3 Ethnic groups 6.4 Languages 6.5 Health 6.6 Religion 6.7 Education 7 Culture 7.1 Music and Dance 7.2 Art 7.3 Sport 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Etymology of name Main articles: Armenia (name) and Hayk

The native Armenian name for the country is Hayk. The name in the Middle Ages was extended to Hayastan by addition of the Iranian suffix -stan (land). The name has traditionally been derived from Hayk () the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and a great-great-grandson of Noah who according to Moses of Chorene defeated the Babylonian king Bel in 2492 BC and established his nation in the Ararat region.24 The further origin of the name is uncertain.

The exonym Armenia is attested in the Old Persian Behistun inscription (515 BC) as Armina ( ). Ancient Greek Armenia "Armenians" is first mentioned by Hecataeus of Miletus (476 BC).25 Xenophon a Greek general serving in some of the Persian expeditions describes many aspects of Armenian village life and hospitality. He relates that the people spoke a language that to his ear sounded like the language of the Persians.26 According to the histories of both Moses of Chorene and Michael Chamich Armenia derives from the name of Aram a lineal descendent of Hayk.2728 History Main article: History of Armenia Antiquity Main articles: Prehistoric Armenia and Prehistory of the Armenians The Kingdom of Armenia at its greatest extent under Tigranes the Great who reigned between 95 and 66 BC

Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat upon which Noah's Ark is said to have come to rest after the flood. (Bible Gen. 8:4). Recent archeological studies have found the earliest leather shoe29 skirt and wine-producing facility 30 in Armenia dated to about 4000 B.C. This points to an advanced early civilization In the Bronze Age; several states flourished in the area of Greater Armenia including the Hittite Empire (at the height of its power) Mitanni (South-Western historical Armenia) and Hayasa-Azzi (15001200 BC). The Nairi people (12th to 9th centuries BC) and the Kingdom of Urartu (1000600 BC) successively established their sovereignty over the Armenian Highland. Each of the aforementioned nations and tribes participated in the ethnogenesis of the Armenian people.31323334 Yerevan the modern capital of Armenia was founded in 782 BC by king Argishti I. Roman temple at Garni

Around 600 BC the Kingdom of Armenia was established under the Orontid Dynasty. The kingdom reached its height between 95 and 66 BC under Tigranes the Great becoming one of the most powerful kingdoms of its time within the region. Throughout its history the kingdom of Armenia enjoyed periods of independence intermitted with periods of autonomy subject to contemporary empires. Armenia's strategic location between two continents has subjected it to invasions by many peoples including the Assyrians Greeks Romans Byzantines Arabs Mongols Persians Ottoman Turks and Russians.

Armenia was historically Mazdean Zoroastrian (as opposed to the Zurvanite Sassanid dynasty) particularly focused on the worship of Mihr (Avestan Mithra) and Christianity spread into the country as early as AD 40. King Tiridates III (AD 238314) made Christianity the state religion in AD 3013536 becoming the first officially Christian state ten years before the Roman Empire granted Christianity an official toleration under Galerius and 36 years before Constantine the Great was baptized.

After the fall of the Armenian kingdom in AD 428 most of Armenia was incorporated as a marzpanate within the Sassanid Empire. Following an Armenian rebellion in AD 451 Christian Armenians maintained their religious freedom while Armenia gained autonomy. Middle Ages Main article: Medieval Armenia Etchmiadzin Cathedral - the oldest church built by the state in the world. After the Marzpanate period (428636) Armenia emerged as the Emirate of Armenia an autonomous principality within the Arabic Empire reuniting Armenian lands previously taken by the Byzantine Empire as well. The principality was ruled by the Prince of Armenia recognised by the Caliph and the Byzantine Emperor. It was part of the administrative division/emirate Arminiyya created by the Arabs which also included parts of Georgia and Caucasian Albania and had its center in the Armenian city Dvin. The Principality of Armenia lasted until 884 when it regained its independence from the weakened Arabic Empire. The re-emergent Armenian kingdom was ruled by the Bagratuni dynasty and lasted until 1045. In time several areas of the Bagratid Armenia separated as independent kingdoms and principalities such as the Kingdom of Vaspurakan ruled by the House of Artsruni while still recognizing the supremacy of the Bagratid kings. The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia 1199-1375. In 1045 the Byzantine Empire conquered Bagratid Armenia. Soon the other Armenian states fell under Byzantine control as well. The Byzantine rule was short lived as in 1071 Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantines and conquered Armenia at the Battle of Manzikert establishing the Seljuk Empire. To escape death or servitude at the hands of those who had assassinated his relative Gagik II King of Ani an Armenian named Roupen went with some of his countrymen into the gorges of the Taurus Mountains and then into Tarsus of Cilicia. The Byzantine governor of the palace gave them shelter where the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was eventually established. Cilicia was a strong ally of the European Crusaders and saw itself as a bastion of Christendom in the East. Cilicia's significance in Armenian history and statehood is also attested by the transfer of the seat of the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church spiritual leader of the Armenian people to the region. The Seljuk Empire soon started to collapse. In the early 12th century Armenian princes of the Zakarid noble family established a semi-independent Armenian principality in Northern and Eastern Armenia known as Zakarid Armenia lasted under patronages of Seljuks Georgian Kingdom Atabegs of Azerbaijan and Khwarezmid Empire. The noble family of Orbelians shared control with the Zakarids in various parts of the country especially in Syunik and Vayots Dzor. Early Modern era Further information: Ottoman Armenia Russian Armenia Persian Armenia During the 1230s the Mongol Empire conquered the Zakaryan Principality as well as the rest of Armenia. The Mongolian invasions were soon followed by those of other Central Asian tribes (Kara Koyunlu Timurid and Ak Koyunlu) which continued from the 13th century until the 15th century. After incessant invasions each bringing destruction to the country Armenia in time became weakened. During the 16th century the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia divided Armenia among themselves. From 1604 Abbas I of Persia implemented a "scorched earth" policy in the region to protect his north-western frontier against any invading Ottoman forces a policy which involved the forced resettlement of many Armenians from their homelands.37 The Russian Empire later incorporated Eastern Armenia (consisting of the Erivan and Karabakh khanates38 within Persia) in 1813 and 1828.39 Under Ottoman rule the Armenians were granted considerable autonomy within their own enclaves and lived in relative harmony with other groups in the empire (including the ruling Turks). However as Christians under a strict Muslim social system Armenians faced pervasive discrimination. When they began pushing for more rights within the Ottoman Empire Sultan Abdul-Hamid II in response organised state-sponsored massacres against the Armenians between 1894 and 1896 resulting in an estimated death toll of 80000 to 300000 people. The Hamidian massacres as they came to be known gave Hamid international infamy as the "Red Sultan" or "Bloody Sultan". As the Ottoman Empire began to collapse the Young Turk Revolution (1908) overthrew the government of Sultan Hamid. Armenians living in the empire hoped that the Committee of Union and Progress would change their second-class status. Armenian reform package (1914) was presented as a solution by appointing an inspector general over Armenian issues.40 World War I and the Armenian Genocide Main article: Armenian Genocide An Armenian woman kneeling beside dead child in field "within sight of help and safety at Aleppo." When World War I broke out leading to confrontation of the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire in the Caucasus and Persian Campaigns the new government in Constantinople began to look on the Armenians with distrust and suspicion. This was due to the fact that the Russian army contained a contingent of Armenian volunteers. On 24 April 1915 Armenian intellectuals were arrested by Ottoman authorities and with the Tehcir Law (29 May 1915) eventually a large proportion of Armenians living in Anatolia perished in what has become known as the Armenian Genocide. There was local Armenian resistance in the region developed against the activities of the Ottoman Empire. The events of 1915 to 1917 are regarded by Armenians and the vast majority of Western historians to have been state-sponsored mass killings or genocide.41 Turkish authorities however maintain that the deaths were the result of a civil war coupled with disease and famine with casualties incurred by both sides. According to the research conducted by Arnold J. Toynbee an estimated 600000 Armenians died during the Armenian Genocide in 191516.42 According to the International Association of Genocide Scholars the death toll was "more than a million".43 Armenia and the Armenian diaspora have been campaigning for official recognition of the events as genocide for over 30 years. These events are traditionally commemorated yearly on 24 April the Armenian Martyr Day or the Day of the Armenian Genocide. Democratic Republic of Armenia (DRA) Main article: Democratic Republic of Armenia Although the Russian army succeeded in gaining most of Ottoman Armenia during World War I their gains were lost with the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.citation needed At the time Russian-controlled Eastern Armenia Georgia and Azerbaijan attempted to bond together in the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. This federation however only lasted from February to May 1918 when all three parties decided to dissolve it. As a result Eastern Armenia became independent as the Democratic Republic of Armenia (DRA) on 28 May. Political divisions of Europe in 1919 showing the independent Armenian republic. The DRA's short-lived independence was fraught with war territorial disputes a mass influx of refugees from Ottoman Armenia spreading disease and starvation. Still the Entente Powers appalled by the actions of the Ottoman government sought to help the newly found Armenian state through relief funds and other forms of support. At the end of the war the victorious Entente powers sought to divide up the Ottoman Empire. Signed between the Allied and Associated Powers and Ottoman Empire at Svres on 10 August 1920 the Treaty of Svres promised to maintain the existence of the DRA and to attach the former territories of Ottoman Armenia to it. Because the new borders of Armenia were to be drawn by United States President Woodrow Wilson Ottoman Armenia is also referred to as "Wilsonian Armenia." In addition just days prior on 5 August 1920 Mihran Damadian of the Armenian National Union the de facto Armenian administration in Cilicia declared the independence of Cilicia as an Armenian autonomous republic under French protectorate.44 There was even consideration of possibly making Armenia a mandate under the protection of the United States. The treaty however was rejected by the Turkish National Movement and never came into effect. The movement under Mustafa Kemal Atatrk used the treaty as the occasion to declare itself the rightful government of Turkey replacing the monarchy based in Istanbul with a republic based in Ankara. Armenian civilians fleeing Kars after its capture by Kazm Karabekir's forces In 1920 Turkish nationalist forces invaded the fledgling Armenian republic from the east and the Turkish-Armenian War began. Turkish forces under the command of Kazm Karabekir captured Armenian territories that Russia annexed in the aftermath of the 18771878 Russo-Turkish War and occupied the old city of Alexandropol (present-day Gyumri). The violent conflict finally concluded with the Treaty of Alexandropol (2 December 1920). The treaty forced Armenia to disarm most of its military forces cede more than 50% of its pre-war territory and to give up all the "Wilsonian Armenia" granted to it at the Svres treaty. Simultaneously the Soviet Eleventh Army under the command of Grigoriy Ordzhonikidze invaded Armenia at Karavansarai (present-day Ijevan) on 29 November. By 4 December Ordzhonikidze's forces entered Yerevan and the short-lived Armenian republic collapsed. Soviet Armenia Main article: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The coat of arms of Soviet Armenia depicting Mount Ararat in the center. Armenia was annexed by Bolshevist Russia and along with Georgia and Azerbaijan it was incorporated into the Soviet Union as part of the Transcaucasian SFSR (TSFSR) on 4 March 1922. With this annexation the Treaty of Alexandropol was superseded by the Turkish-Soviet Treaty of Kars. In the agreement Turkey allowed the Soviet Union to assume control over Adjara with the port city of Batumi in return for sovereignty over the cities of Kars Ardahan and Idr all of which were part of Russian Armenia. The TSFSR existed from 1922 to 1936 when it was divided up into three separate entities (Armenian SSR Azerbaijan SSR and Georgian SSR). Armenians enjoyed a period of relative stability under Soviet rule. They received medicine food and other provisions from Moscow and communist rule proved to be a soothing balm in contrast to the turbulent final years of the Ottoman Empire. The situation was difficult for the church which struggled under Soviet rule. After the death of Vladimir Lenin Joseph Stalin took the reins of power and began an era of renewed fear and terror for Armenians.45 As with various other ethnic groups who lived in the Soviet Union during Stalin's Great Purge tens of thousands of Armenians were either executed or deported.citation needed Armenia was spared the devastation and destruction that wrought most of the western Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War of World War II. The Nazis never reached the South Caucasus which they intended to do in order to capture the oil fields in Azerbaijan. Still Armenia played a valuable role in aiding the allies both through industry and agriculture. An estimated 500000 Armenians out of a population of 1.4 million were mobilised. 175000 of these men died in the war.46 Fears decreased when Stalin died in 1953 and Nikita Khruschev emerged as the Soviet Union's new leader. Soon life in Soviet Armenia began to see rapid improvement. The church which suffered greatly under Stalin was revived when Catholicos Vazgen I assumed the duties of his office in 1955. In 1967 a memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide was built at the Tsitsernakaberd hill above the Hrazdan gorge in Yerevan. This occurred after mass demonstrations took place on the tragic event's fiftieth anniversary in 1965. Armenians gather at Theater Square in central Yerevan to protest Soviet policies and rule in 1988 During the Gorbachev era of the 1980s with the reforms of Glasnost and Perestroika Armenians began to demand better environmental care for their country opposing the pollution that Soviet-built factories brought. Tensions also developed between Soviet Azerbaijan and its autonomous district of Nagorno-Karabakh a majority-Armenian region separated by Stalin from Armenia in 1923. The Armenians of Karabakh demanded unification with Soviet Armenia. Peaceful protests in Yerevan supporting the Karabakh Armenians were met with anti-Armenian pogroms in the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait. Compounding Armenia's problems was a devastating earthquake in 1988 with a moment magnitude of 7.2.47 Gorbachev's inability to solve Armenia's problems (especially Karabakh) created disillusionment among the Armenians and only fed a growing hunger for independence. In May 1990 the New Armenian Army (NAA) was established serving as a defence force separate from the Soviet Red Army. Clashes soon broke out between the NAA and Soviet Internal Security Forces (MVD) troops based in Yerevan when Armenians decided to commemorate the establishment of the 1918 Democratic Republic of Armenia. The violence resulted in the deaths of five Armenians killed in a shootout with the MVD at the railway station. Witnesses there claimed that the MVD used excessive force and that they had instigated the fighting. Further firefights between Armenian militiamen and Soviet troops occurred in Sovetashen near the capital and resulted in the deaths of over 26 people mostly Armenians. Pogrom of Armenians in Baku in January 1990 forced almost all of the 200000 Armenians in the Azerbaijani capital Baku to flee to Armenia.48 On 17 March 1991 Armenia along with the Baltic states Georgia and Moldova boycotted a union-wide referendum in which 78% of all voters voted for the retention of the Soviet Union in a reformed form.49 Restoration of independence Main article: History of Armenia#Independent Armenia (1991-today) On 23 August 1990 Armenia declared independence becoming the first non-Baltic republic to secede from the Soviet Union. When in 1991 the Soviet Union was dissolved Armenia's independence was officially recognized. However the initial post-Soviet years were marred by economic difficulties as well as the break-out of a full-scale armed confrontation between the Karabakh Armenians and Azerbaijan. The economic problems had their roots early in the Karabakh conflict when the Azerbaijani Popular Front managed to pressure the Azerbaijan SSR to instigate a railway and air blockade against Armenia. This move effectively crippled Armenia's economy as 85% of its cargo and goods arrived through rail traffic.50 In 1993 Turkey joined the blockade against Armenia in support of Azerbaijan.51 The Karabakh war ended after a Russian-brokered cease-fire was put in place in 1994. The war was a success for the Karabakh Armenian forces who managed to secure 14% of Azerbaijan's internationally recognised territory including Nagorno-Karabakh itself.52 Since then Armenia and Azerbaijan have held peace talks mediated by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The status over Karabakh has yet to be determined. The economies of both countries have been hurt in the absence of a complete resolution and Armenia's borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan remain closed. By the time both Azerbaijan and Armenia had finally agreed to a ceasefire in 1994 an estimated 30000 people had been killed and over a million had been displaced.53 As it enters the 21st century Armenia faces many hardships. Still it has managed to make some improvements. It has made a full switch to a market economy and as of 2009 is the 31st most economically free nation in the world.54 Its relations with Europe the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States have allowed Armenia to increase trade. Gas oil and other supplies come through two vital routes: Iran and Georgia. Armenia maintains cordial relations with both countries. Geography Main article: Geography of Armenia Armenia is landlocked in the South Caucasus. Located between the Black and Caspian Seas the country is bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey. Location Armenia lies between latitudes 38 and 42 N and meridians 43 and 47 E.  Turkey  Georgia  Azerbaijan  Turkey  Azerbaijan    Armenia      Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan)  Iran  Azerbaijan Topography Armenia's topography is mountainous and volcanic The Republic of Armenia covering an area of 29743 square kilometres (11484 sq mi) is located in the north-east of the Armenian Highland. The terrain is mostly mountainous with fast flowing rivers and few forests. The climate is highland continental which means that the country is subjected to hot summers and cold winters. The land rises to 4090 metres (13419 ft) above sea-level at Mount Aragats and no point is below 390 metres (1280 ft) above sea level.55 Mount Ararat which was historically part of Armenia is the highest mountain in the region. Now located in Turkey but clearly visible in Armenia it is regarded by the Armenians as a symbol of their land. Because of this the mountain is present on the Armenian national emblem today. Environment Armenia has established a Ministry of Nature Protection and introduced taxes for air and water pollution and solid waste disposal whose revenues are used for environmental protection activities. Waste management in Armenia is underdeveloped as no waste sorting or recycling takes place at Armenia's 60 landfills. Despite the availability of abundant renewable energy sources in Armenia (especially hydroelectric and wind power) the Armenian Government is working toward building a new Nuclear Power Plant at Medzamor near Yerevan.56 Climate See also: Climate of Armenia The climate in Armenia is markedly continental. Summers are dry and sunny lasting from June to mid-September. The temperature fluctuates between 22 and 36 degrees Celsius (72 and 97 F). However the low humidity level mitigates the effect of high temperatures. Evening breezes blowing down the mountains provide a welcome refreshing and cooling effect. Springs are short while falls are long. Autumns are known for their vibrant and colorful foliage. Winters are quite cold with plenty of snow with temperatures ranging between -10 and -5 C (14 and 23 F). Winter sports enthusiasts enjoy skiing down the hills of Tsakhkadzor located thirty minutes outside Yerevan. Lake Sevan nestled up in the Armenian highlands is the second largest lake in the world relative to its altitude at 1900 metres (6234 ft) above sea level. Government and politics Main article: Politics of Armenia Politics of Armenia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic. According to the Constitution of Armenia the President is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The unicameral parliament (also called the Azgayin Zhoghov or National Assembly) is controlled by a coalition of four political parties: the conservative Republican party the Prosperous Armenia party the Rule of Law party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. The main opposition party is Raffi Hovannisian's Heritage party which favors eventual Armenian membership in the European Union and NATO. The Armenian government's stated aim is to build a Western-style parliamentary democracy as the basis of its form of government. It has universal suffrage above the age of eighteen. The National Assembly of Armenia International observers of Council of Europe and U.S. Department of State have questioned the fairness of Armenia's parliamentary and presidential elections and constitutional referendum since 1995 citing polling deficiencies lack of cooperation by the Electoral Commission and poor maintenance of electoral lists and polling places. Freedom House categorized Armenia in its 2008 report as a "Semi-consolidated Authoritarian Regime" (along with Moldova Kosovo Kyrgyzstan and Russia) and ranked Armenia 20th among 29 nations in transition with a Democracy Score of 5.21 out of 7 (7 represents the lowest democratic progress).57 Since 1999 Freedom House's Democracy Score for Armenia has been steadily on the decline (from 4.79 to 5.21).58 Furthermore Freedom House ranked Armenia as "partly free" in its 2007 report though it did not categorise Armenia as an "electoral democracy" indicating an absence of relatively free and competitive elections.59 However significant progress seems to have been made and the 2008 Armenian presidential election was hailed as largely democratic by OSCE and Western monitors.60 Foreign relations Main articles: Foreign relations of Armenia and Armenia and the European Union Embassy of Armenia in Washington D.C. Armenia presently maintains good relations with almost every country in the world with two major exceptions being its immediate neighbours Turkey and Azerbaijan. Tensions were running high between Armenians and Azerbaijanis during the final years of the Soviet Union. The Nagorno-Karabakh War dominated the region's politics throughout the 1990s.61 The border between the two rival countries remains closed up to this day and a permanent solution for the conflict has not been reached despite the mediation provided by organisations such as the OSCE. Turkey also has a long history of poor relations with Armenia over its refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Armenia (the 3rd republic) after its independence from the USSR in 1991. Despite this for most of the 20th century and early 21st century relations remain tense and there are no formal diplomatic relations between the two countries due to Turkey's refusal to establish them for numerous reasons. During the Karabakh conflict and bringing it as the reason Turkey closed its land border with Armenia in 1993. It has not lifted its blockade despite pressure from the powerful Turkish business lobby interested in Armenian markets.61 Since 2005 however the Armenian airline company Armavia regularly flies between the Zvartnots International Airport of Yerevan and Atatrk International Airport of Istanbul. On 10 October 2009 Armenia and Turkey signed protocols on normalisation of relationships which set a timetable for restoring diplomatic ties and reopening their joint border.62 The ratification of those had to be made in the national parliaments. In Armenia it passed through the required by legislation approval of the Constitutional Court and was sent to the parliament for the final ratification. The President had publicly announced for multiple times both abroad and in Armenia that as the leader of the political majority of Armenia he assures the ratification of the protocols if Turkey has it done. Despite this the process stopped as Turkey continuously added more preconditions to its ratification and also "delayed it beyond any reasonable time-period". The Government building in Yerevan Due to its position between two unfriendly neighbours Armenia has close security ties with Russia. At the request of the Armenian government Russia maintains a military base in the northwestern Armenian city of Gyumri63 as a deterrent against Turkey.citation needed Despite this Armenia has also been looking toward Euro-Atlantic structures in recent years. It maintains good relations with the United States especially through its Armenian diaspora. According to the U.S. Census Bureau there are 427822 Armenians living in the country.64 Because of the blockades by Azerbaijan and Turkey Armenia continues to maintain solid relations with its southern neighbor Iran especially in the economic sector. Economic projects such a gas pipeline going from Iran to Armenia are in time being developed. Armenia is also a member of the Council of Europe maintaining friendly relations with the European Union especially with its member states such as France and Greece. A 2005 survey reported that 64% of Armenia's population would be in favor of joining the EU.65 Several Armenian officials have also expressed the desire for their country to eventually become an EU member state66 some predicting that it will make an official bid for membership in a few years. Human rights Main article: Human rights in Armenia Human rights in Armenia are better than those in most former Soviet republics and have drawn closer to acceptable standards especially economically. Still there are several considerable problems. Overall Armenia's human rights record is similar to that of Georgia's. Armenia has been labeled as "partly free" by Freedom House.67 Military Main article: Armed Forces of Armenia The Armenian Army Air Force Air Defence and Border Guard comprise the four branches of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. The Armenian military was formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and with the establishment of the Ministry of Defence in 1992. The Commander-in-Chief of the military is the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. The Ministry of Defence is in charge of political leadership currently headed by Colonel-General Mikael Harutyunyan while military command remains in the hands of the General Staff headed by the Chief of Staff who is currently Lieutenant-General Seyran Ohanian. Armenian Army BTR-80s. Active forces now number about 81000 soldiers with an additional reserve of 32000 troops. Armenian border guards are in charge of patrolling the country's borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan while Russian troops continue to monitor its borders with Iran and Turkey. In the case of an attack Armenia is able to mobilise every able-bodied man between the age of 15 and 59 with military preparedness. Armenian soldiers at the 2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade. The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe which establishes comprehensive limits on key categories of military equipment was ratified by the Armenian parliament in July 1992. In March 1993 Armenia signed the multilateral Chemical Weapons Convention which calls for the eventual elimination of chemical weapons. Armenia acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapons state in July 1993. Armenia is member of Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) along with Belarus Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Russia Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It participates in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PiP) program and is in a NATO organisation called Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). Armenia has engaged in a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo as part of non-NATO KFOR troops under Greek command.68 Armenia also had 46 members of its military peacekeeping forces as a part of the Coalition Forces in Iraq War until October 2008.69 Administrative divisions Main article: Administrative divisions of Armenia Shirak Lori Tavush Aragatsotn Armavir Yerevan Ararat Kotayk Gegharkunik Vayots Dzor Syunik Armenia is divided into ten provinces (marzer singular marz) with the city (kaghak) of Yerevan () having special administrative status as the country's capital. The chief executive in each of the ten provinces is the marzpet (marz governor) appointed by the government of Armenia. In Yerevan the chief executive is the mayor appointed by the president. Within each province are communities (hamaynkner singular hamaynk). Each community is self-governing and consists of one or more settlements (bnakavayrer singular bnakavayr). Settlements are classified as either towns (kaghakner singular kaghak) or villages (gyugher singular gyugh). As of 2007 Armenia includes 915 communities of which 49 are considered urban and 866 are considered rural. The capital Yerevan also has the status of a community.70 Additionally Yerevan is divided into twelve semi-autonomous districts. Province Capital Area Population Aragatsotn () Ashtarak () 2753 km 126278 Ararat () Artashat () 2096 km 252665 Armavir () Armavir () 1242 km 255861 Gegharkunik () Gavar () 5348 km 215371 Kotayk () Hrazdan () 2089 km 241337 Lori () Vanadzor () 3789 km 253351 Shirak () Gyumri () 2681 km 257242 Syunik () Kapan () 4506 km 134061 Tavush () Ijevan () 2704 km 121963 Vayots Dzor ( ) Yeghegnadzor () 2308 km 53230 Yerevan () 227 km 1091235 Economy Main articles: Economy of Armenia and Agriculture in Armenia The Armenian economy heavily relies on investment and support from Armenians abroad.71 Before independence Armenia's economy was largely industry-based chemicals electronics machinery processed food synthetic rubber and textile and highly dependent on outside resources. The republic had developed a modern industrial sector supplying machine tools textiles and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy.35 Agriculture accounted for less than 20% of both net material product and total employment before the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. After independence the importance of agriculture in the economy increased markedly its share at the end of the 1990s rising to more than 30% of GDP and more than 40% of total employment.72 This increase in agriculture's share was attributable to food security needs of the population in the face of uncertainty during the first phases of transition and the collapse of the non-agricultural sectors of the economy in the early 1990s. As the economic situation stabilized and growth resumed the share of agriculture in GDP dropped to slightly over 20% (2006 data) although the share of agriculture in employment remained more than 40%.73 A vibrant Yerevan at dusk Armenian mines produce copper zinc gold and lead. The vast majority of energy is produced with fuel imported from Russia including gas and nuclear fuel (for its one nuclear power plant); the main domestic energy source is hydroelectric. Small amounts of coal gas and petroleum have not yet been developed. Like other newly independent states of the former Soviet Union Armenia's economy suffers from the legacy of a centrally planned economy and the breakdown of former Soviet trading patterns. Soviet investment in and support of Armenian industry has virtually disappeared so that few major enterprises are still able to function. In addition the effects of the 1988 Spitak Earthquake which killed more than 25000 people and made 500000 homeless are still being felt. The conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has not been resolved. The closure of Azerbaijani and Turkish borders has devastated the economy because Armenia depends on outside supplies of energy and most raw materials. Land routes through Georgia and Iran are inadequate or unreliable. GDP fell nearly 60% from 1989 until 1993 and then resumed its robust growth.72 The national currency the dram suffered hyperinflation for the first years after its introduction in 1993. Nevertheless the government was able to make wide-ranging economic reforms that paid off in dramatically lower inflation and steady growth. The 1994 cease-fire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has also helped the economy. Armenia has had strong economic growth since 1995 building on the turnaround that began the previous year and inflation has been negligible for the past several years. New sectors such as precious stone processing and jewellery making information and communication technology and even tourism are beginning to supplement more traditional sectors in the economy such as agriculture. This steady economic progress has earned Armenia increasing support from international institutions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and other international financial institutions (IFIs) and foreign countries are extending considerable grants and loans. Loans to Armenia since 1993 exceed $1.1 billion. These loans are targeted at reducing the budget deficit stabilizing the currency; developing private businesses; energy; the agriculture food processing transportation and health and education sectors; and ongoing rehabilitation in the earthquake zone. The government joined the World Trade Organization on 5 February 2003. But one of the main sources of foreign direct investments remains the Armenian diaspora which finances major parts of the reconstruction of infrastructure and other public projects. Being a growing democratic state Armenia also hopes to get more financial aid from the Western World. A liberal foreign investment law was approved in June 1994 and a Law on Privatisation was adopted in 1997 as well as a program on state property privatisation. Continued progress will depend on the ability of the government to strengthen its macroeconomic management including increasing revenue collection improving the investment climate and making strides against corruption. However unemployment still remains a major problem due to the influx of thousands of refugees from the Karabakh conflict which currently stands at around 15%. Armenia ranked 83rd on the 2007 UNDP Human Development Index the highest among the Transcaucasian republics.74 In the 2007 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) Armenia ranked 99 of 179 countries.75 In the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom Armenia ranked 28th ahead of countries like Austria France Portugal and Italy.54 Demographics Main articles: Demographics of Armenia Armenian people and Peoples of the Caucasus Armenia has a population of 3238000 (2008 est.)76 and is the second most densely populated of the former Soviet republics. There has been a problem of population decline due to elevated levels of emigration after the break-up of the USSR. The rates of emigration and population decline however have decreased drastically in the recent years and a moderate influx of Armenians returning to Armenia have been the main reasons for the trend which is expected to continue. In fact Armenia is expected to resume its positive population growth by 2010. Cities See also: List of municipalities in Armenia view talk view talk Largest cities of Armenia 2009 estimation77 Yerevan Gyumri Rank City Name Province Pop. Rank City Name Province Pop. Vanadzor Vagharshapat 1 Yerevan Yerevan 1107800 11 Goris Syunik 21935 2 Gyumri Shirak 168918 12 Ashtarak Aragatsotn 20636 3 Vanadzor Lori 116929 13 Stepanavan Lori 19341 4 Vagharshapat Armavir 58000 14 Spitak Lori 18237 5 Hrazdan Kotayk 42150 15 Charentsavan Kotayk 17752 6 Abovyan Kotayk 36705 16 Sevan Gegharkunik 17377 7 Artashat Ararat 35100 17 Sisian Syunik 16823 8 Kapan Syunik 35071 18 Ijevan Tavush 15620 9 Armavir Armavir 26387 19 Artik Shirak 14949 10 Gavar Gegharkunik 22444 20 Dilijan Tavush 13752 Diaspora Main article: Armenian diaspora Armenia has a relatively large diaspora (8 million by some estimates greatly exceeding the 3 million population of Armenia itself) with communities existing across the globe. The largest Armenian communities outside of Armenia can be found in Russia France Iran the United States Georgia Syria Lebanon Argentina Australia Canada Greece Cyprus Israel Poland and Ukraine. 40000 to 70000 Armenians still live in Turkey (mostly in and around Istanbul).78 Also about 1000 Armenians reside in the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel a remnant of a once-larger community.79 Italy is home to the San Lazzaro degli Armeni an island located in the Venetian Lagoon which is completely occupied by a monastery run by the Mechitarists an Armenian Catholic congregation.80 In addition approximately 139000 Armenians live in the de facto country of Nagorno-Karabakh where they form a majority.81 Ethnic groups Comparison table of Armenian Azerbaijani and Kurdish population of Armenia Ethnic Armenians make up 97.9% of the population. Yazidis make up 1.3% and Russians 0.5%. Other minorities include Assyrians Ukrainians Greeks Kurds Georgians and Belarusians. There are also smaller communities of Vlachs Mordvins Ossetians Udis and Tats. Minorities of Poles and Caucasus Germans also exist though they are heavily Russified.82 During the Soviet era Azerbaijanis were historically the second largest population in the country (forming about 2.5% in 1989).83 However due to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh virtually all of them emigrated from Armenia to Azerbaijan. Conversely Armenia received a large influx of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan thus giving Armenia a more homogeneous character. Languages Armenian is the only official language even though Russian is widely used especially in education84 and could be considered as de facto "second language". 94% of adult Armenians consider it important that their children learn Russian.85 Health Life expectancy at birth was at 70 for males and at 76 for females in 2006.86 Health expenditure was at about 5.6 % of the GDP in 2004.86 Most of this was outside the private sector.86 Government expenditure on health was at US$ 112 per person in 2006.87 Religion See also: Religion in Armenia The influence of St. Gregory the Illuminator led to the adoption of Christianity in Armenia in the year AD 301. He is the patron saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church The 7th century Khor Virap monastery in the shadow of Mount Ararat upon which Noah's Ark had supposedly once come to rest. Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion an event traditionally dated to AD 301.88899091 The predominant religion in Armenia is Christianity. The roots of the Armenian Church go back to the 1st century. According to tradition the Armenian Church was founded by two of Jesus' twelve apostles Thaddaeus and Bartholomew who preached Christianity in Armenia between AD 4060. Because of these two founding apostles the official name of the Armenian Church is Armenian Apostolic Church. Over 93% of Armenian Christians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church a form of Oriental (Non-Chalcedonian) Orthodoxy which is a very ritualistic conservative church roughly comparable to the Coptic and Syriac churches.92 Armenian Apostolic Church is in communion only with a group of churches within Oriental Orthodoxy. Other religious denominations in Armenia are the Baptists939495 and Presbyterians.969798 Catholics also exist in Armenia both latin rite and Mekhitarist Catholics. The Mechitarists (also spelled "Mekhitarists" Armenian: ) are a congregation of Benedictine monks of the Armenian Catholic Church founded in 1712 by Mechitar of Sebaste. They are best known for their series of scholarly publications of ancient Armenian versions of otherwise lost ancient Greek texts. The Armenian Catholic denomination is headquartered in Bzoummar Lebanon. The Yazidi Kurds who live in the western part of the country practice Yazidism. There are also non-Yazidi Kurds who practice Sunni Islam.citation needed. There is a Jewish community in Armenia diminished to 750 persons since independence with most emigrants leaving for Israel. There are currently two synagogues in Armenia in the capital Yerevan and in the city of Sevan located near Lake Sevan. Education Main article: Education in Armenia Yerevan State University Yerevan Armenia In its first years of independence Armenia made uneven progress in establishing systems to meet its national requirements in social services.99 Education held in particular esteem in Armenian culture changed fastest of the social services while health and welfare services attempted to maintain the basic state-planned structure of the Soviet era.99 A literacy rate of 100% was reported as early as 1960.99 In the communist era Armenian education followed the standard Soviet model of complete state control (from Moscow) of curricula and teaching methods and close integration of education activities with other aspects of society such as politics culture and the economy.99 As in the Soviet period primary and secondary education in Armenia is free and completion of secondary school is compulsory.99 In the 198889 school year 301 students per 10000 population were in specialized secondary or higher education a figure slightly lower than the Soviet average.99 In 1989 some 58 % of Armenians over age fifteen had completed their secondary education and 14 % had a higher education.99 In the 199091 school year the estimated 1307 primary and secondary schools were attended by 608800 students.99 Another seventy specialized secondary institutions had 45900 students and 68400 students were enrolled in a total of ten postsecondary institutions that included universities.99 In addition 35 % of eligible children attended preschools.99 In 1992 Armenia's largest institution of higher learning Yerevan State University had eighteen departments including ones for social sciences sciences and law.99 Its faculty numbered about 1300 teachers and its student population about 10000 students.99 The Yerevan Architecture and Civil Engineering Institute was founded in 1989.99 In the early 1990s Armenia made substantial changes to the centralized and regimented Soviet system.99 Because at least 98 % of students in higher education were Armenian curricula began to emphasize Armenian history and culture.99 Armenian became the dominant language of instruction and many schools that had taught in Russian closed by the end of 1991.99 Russian was still widely taught however as a second language.99 The American University of Armenia in Yerevan. On the basis of the expansion and development of Yerevan State University a number of higher educational independent Institutions were formed including Medical Institute separated in 1930 which was set up on the basis of medical faculty. In 1980 Yerevan State Medical University was awarded one of the main rewards of the former USSR the Order of Labor red Banner for training qualified specialists in health care and valuable service in the development of Medical Science. In 1995 YSMI was renamed to YSMU and since 1989 it has been named after Mkhitar Heratsi the famous medieval doctor. Mkhitar Heratsi was the founder of Armenian Medical school in Cilician Armenia. The great doctor played the same role in Armenian Medical Science as Hippocrates in Western Galen in Roman Ibn Sn in Arabic medicine. Foreign students' department for Armenian Diaspora established in 1957 later was enlarged and the enrollment of foreign students began. Nowadays the YSMU is a Medical Institution corresponding to international requirements trains medical staff not only for Armenia and neighbor countries i.e. Iran Syria Lebanon Georgia but for many other leading countries all over the world. A great number of foreign students from India Nepal Sri Lanka the USA and Russian Federation study together with Armenian students. Nowadays the university is ranked among famous higher Medical Institutions and takes its honorable place in the World Directory of Medical schools published by the WHO. Other schools in Armenia include the American University of Armenia and the QSI International School of Yerevan. The American University of Armenia has graduate programs in Business and Law among others. The institution owes its existence to the combined efforts of the Government of Armenia the Armenian General Benevolent Union U.S. Agency for International Development and the University of California. The extension programs and the library at AUA form a new focal point for English-language intellectual life in the city. Culture Main article: Culture of Armenia See also: Music of Armenia Armenian cuisine and Sport in Armenia Mesrop Mashtots by Francesco Maggiotto Armenians have their own distinctive alphabet and language. The alphabet was invented in AD 405 by Saint Mesrob Mashtots and consists of thirty-eight letters two of which were added during the Cilician period. 96% of the people in the country speak Armenian while 75.8% of the population additionally speaks Russian although English is becoming increasingly popular. Music and Dance Main article: Music of Armenia Traditional Armenian Dance Armenian music is a mix of indigenous folk music perhaps best-represented by Djivan Gasparyan's well-known duduk music as well as light pop and extensive Christian music. Instruments like the duduk the dhol the zurna and the kanun are commonly found in Armenian folk music. Artists such as Sayat Nova are famous due to their influence in the development of Armenian folk music. One of the oldest types of Armenian music is the Armenian chant which is the most common kind of religious music in Armenia. Many of these chants are ancient in origin extending to pre-Christian times while others are relatively modern including several composed by Saint Mesrop Mashtots the inventor of the Armenian alphabet. Whilst under Soviet rule Armenian classical music composer Aram Khatchaturian became internationally well known for his music for various ballets and the Sabre Dance from his composition for the ballet Gayane. The Armenian Genocide caused widespread emigration that led to the settlement of Armenians in various countries in the world. Armenians kept to their traditions and certain diasporans rose to fame with their music. In the post-Genocide Armenian community of the United States the so called "kef" style Armenian dance music using Armenian and Middle Eastern folk instruments (often electrified/amplified) and some western instruments was popular. This style preserved the folk songs and dances of Western Armenia and many artists also played the contemporary popular songs of Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries from which the Armenians emigrated. Richard Hagopian is perhaps the most famous artist of the traditional "kef" style and the Vosbikian Band was notable in the 40s and 50s for developing their own style of "kef music" heavily influenced by the popular American Big Band Jazz of the time. Later stemming from the Middle Eastern Armenian diaspora and influenced by Continental European (especially French) pop music the Armenian pop music genre grew to fame in the 60s and 70s with artists such as Adiss Harmandian and Harout Pamboukjian performing to the Armenian diaspora and Armenia. Also with artists such as Sirusho performing pop music combined with Armenian folk music in today's entertainment industry. Other Armenian diasporans that rose to fame in classical or international music circles are world renown French-Armenian singer and composer Charles Aznavour pianist Sahan Arzruni prominent opera sopranos such as Hasmik Papian and more recently Isabel Bayrakdarian and Anna Kasyan. Certain Armenians settled to sing non-Armenian tunes such as the heavy metal band System of a Down (which nonetheless often incorporates traditional Armenian instrumentals and styling into their songs) or pop star Cher. In the Armenian diaspora Armenian revolutionary songs are popular with the youth. These songs encourage Armenian patriotism and are generally about Armenian history and national heroes. Art Ancient Armenian Khachkars (cross-stones) Yerevan's Vernisage (arts and crafts market) close to Republic Square bustles with hundreds of vendors selling a variety of crafts on weekends and Wednesdays (though the selection is much reduced mid-week). The market offers woodcarving antiques fine lace and the hand-knotted wool carpets and kilims that are a Caucasus specialty. Obsidian which is found locally is crafted into assortment of jewellery and ornamental objects. Armenian gold smithery enjoys a long tradition populating one corner of the market with a selection of gold items. Soviet relics and souvenirs of recent Russian manufacturenesting dolls watches enamel boxes and so on are also available at the Vernisage. Across from the Opera House a popular art market fills another city park on the weekends. Armenias long history as a crossroads of the ancient world has resulted in a landscape with innumerable fascinating archaeological sites to explore. Medieval Iron Age Bronze Age and even Stone Age sites are all within a few hours drive from the city. All but the most spectacular remain virtually undiscovered allowing visitors to view churches and fortresses in their original settings. The National Art Gallery in Yerevan has more than 16000 works that date back to the Middle Ages which indicate Armenia's rich tales and stories of the times. It houses paintings by many European masters as well. The Modern Art Museum the Childrens Picture Gallery and the Martiros Saryan Museum are only a few of the other noteworthy collections of fine art on display in Yerevan. Moreover many private galleries are in operation with many more opening every year featuring rotating exhibitions and sales. Sport Main article: Sport in Armenia Athletes taking part in the annual 1 May parade in Yerevan's Lenin Square now known as the Republic Square A wide array of sports are played in Armenia the most popular among them being wrestling weightlifting judo soccer chess and boxing. Armenia's mountainous terrain provides great opportunities for the practice of sports like skiing and climbing. Being a landlocked country water sports can only be practiced on lakes notably Lake Sevan. Competitively Armenia has been successful in chess weightlifting and wrestling at the international level. Armenia is also an active member of the international sports community with full membership in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). It also hosts the Pan-Armenian Games. Prior to 1992 Armenians would participate in the Olympics representing the USSR. As part of the Soviet Union Armenia was very successful winning plenty of medals and helping the USSR win the medal standings at the Olympics on numerous occasions. The first medal won by an Armenian in modern Olympic history was by Hrant Shahinian (sometimes spelled as Grant Shaginian) who won two golds and two silvers in gymnastics at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. To highlight the level of success of Armenians in the Olympics Shahinian was quoted as saying: Armenian sportsmen had to outdo their opponents by several notches for the shot at being accepted into any Soviet team. But those difficulties notwithstanding 90 percent of Armenians athletes on Soviet Olympic teams came back with medals."100 Armenia first participated at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona under a unified CIS team where it was very successful winning three golds and one silver in weightlifting wrestling and sharp shooting despite only having 5 athletes. Since the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer Armenia has participated as an independent nation. Armenia participates in the Summer Olympic Games in boxing wrestling weightlifting judo gymnastics track and field diving swimming and sharp shooting. It also participates in the Winter Olympic Games in alpine skiing cross-country skiing and figure skating. International Grandmaster Levon Aronian Football is also popular in Armenia. The most successful team was the FC Ararat Yerevan team of the 1970's who won the Soviet Cup in 1973 and 1975 and the Soviet Top League in 1973. The latter achievement saw FC Ararat gain entry to the European Cup where - despite a home victory in the second leg - they lost on aggregate at the quarter final stage to eventual winner FC Bayern Munich. Armenia competed internationally as part of the USSR national football team until the Armenian national football team was formed in 1992 after the split of the Soviet Union. Armenia have never qualified for a major tournament although recent improvements saw the team achieve their highest ever position in the FIFA World Rankings in November 2010. The national team is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia. The Armenian Premier League is the highest level football competition in Armenia and has been dominated by FC Pyunik in recent seasons. The league currently consists of eight teams and relegates to the Armenian First League. Armenia and the Armenian diaspora have produced many successful footballers including Youri Djorkaeff Alain Boghossian Andranik Eskandarian Andranik Teymourian Edgar Manucharyan and Nikita Simonyan. Djokaeff and Boghossian won the 1998 FIFA World Cup with France Andranik Teymourian competed in the 2006 World Cup for Iran and Edgar Manucharyan played in the Dutch Eredivisie for Ajax. Wrestling has been a successful sport in the Olympics for Armenia. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta Armen Nazaryan won the gold in the Men's Greco-Roman Flyweight (52 kg) category and Armen Mkertchian won the silver in Men's Freestyle Paperweight (48 kg) category securing Armenia's first two medals in its Olympic history. Traditional Armenian wrestling is called Kokh and practiced in traditional garb; it was one of the influences included in the Soviet combat sport of Sambo which is also very popular. The government of Armenia budgets about $2.8 million annually for sports and gives it to the National Committee of Physical Education and Sports the body that determines which programs should benefit from the funds. Due to the lack of success lately on the international level in recent years Armenia has rebuilt 16 Soviet-era sports schools and furnished them with new equipment for a total cost of $1.9 million. The rebuilding of the regional schools was financed by the Armenian government. $9.3 million has been invested in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor to improve the winter sports infrastructure because of dismal performances at recent winter sports events. In 2005 a cycling center was opened in Yerevan with the aim of helping produce world class Armenian cyclists. The government has also promised a cash reward of $700000 to Armenians who win a gold medal at the Olympics.101 Armenia was very successful in chess having won the World Chess Olympiad twice in a row.102 See also Armenia portal Main article: Outline of Armenia Index of Armenia-related articles Republic of Mountainous Armenia Russian Armenia v d e Armenia topics History (timeline) Early Origins  Name  Kura-Araxes culture  Hayk  Hayasa-Azzi  Mitanni  Nairi  Kingdom of Urartu  Orontid dynasty  Kingdom of Armenia  Roman Armenia  Byzantine Armenia  Bagratuni Armenia  Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia Middle Persian Armenia  Ottoman Armenia  Russian Armenia Modern Democratic Republic of Armenia  Soviet Armenia  Independent Armenia By topic Armenian Genocide (relief)  Armenian national movement  Also:more Government and politics Constitution  President  Prime Minister  National Assembly  Political parties  Elections  Foreign relations  Corruption  Human rights  LGBT rights  Relations with the European Union  more on government / politics Economy Armenian dram  Central Bank  List of companies  Armex  Agriculture  Industry  Communications  Transport  Energy  Mining  Waste management  International rankings Administrative divisions Historical regions  Provinces (Marzer)  Municipalities  more Armed Forces Army  Air Force  Air Defense  Border Guard  more Geography Armenian Highland  Ararat plain  Rivers and lakes  Mountains  Shikahogh State Preserve  Extreme points  Mount Aragats  Lake Sevan  more Demographics People  Diaspora  Census  Health  Crime  Education  Social issues  Ethnic minorities  Women  more Religion Armenian Apostolic Church  Armenian Catholic Church  Armenian Evangelical Church  Armenian Brotherhood Church  Judaism  Islam  more Culture Language (Eastern  Western)  Alphabet  Architecture  Literature  Education  Cuisine  Theatre  Dance  Sport  Music  Cinema  Art  more Symbols Flag  Coat of arms  National anthem References The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia Article 12. Asatryan Garnik; Arakelova Victoria (Yerevan 2002). The Ethnic Minorities in Armenia. Part of the OSCE The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia Article 55. "The World Fact Book - Armenia". Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/am.html. Retrieved 2010-07-17.  "Statistical Service of Armenia". World Economic Outlook Database October 2009. IMF. http://armstat.am/file/doc/99458058.pdf. Retrieved September 2 2010.  "News.am". World Economic Outlook Database October 2009. IMF. http://news.am/eng/news/46702.html. Retrieved January 1 2011.  a b c d "Armenia". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspxsy2008&ey2011&scsm1&ssd1&sortcountry&ds.&br1&c911&sNGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp0&a&pr.x46&pr.y14. Retrieved 2010-04-12.  "Distribution of family income Gini index". The World Factbook. CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html. Retrieved 2009-09-01.  "Human Development Report 2010". United Nations. 2010. http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR2010ENTable1.pdf. Retrieved 5 November 2010.  Armenia may be considered to be in Asia and/or Europe. The UN classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook "Armenia". The World Factbook. CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/am.html. Retrieved September 2 2010.  "Armenia". National Geographic. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/index.htmlParentasia&Rootmaparmeni&Moded&SubModew.  and "Armenia". Encyclopdia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/35178/Armenia.  also place Armenia in Asia. Conversely some sources place Armenia in Europe such as Oxford Reference Online "Homepage". Oxford Reference Online. http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.htmlentryt186.e21064&srn1&ssid416740626#FIRSTHIT. Retrieved September 2 2010.  and "Europe". Worldatlas. http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/eu.htm. Retrieved September 2 2010. unreliable source "The conversion of Armenia to Christianity was probably the most crucial step in its history. It turned Armenia sharply away from its Iranian past and stamped it for centuries with an intrinsic character as clear to the native population as to those outside its borders who identified Armenia almost at once as the first state to adopt Christianity". (Garsoan Nina (1997). ed. R.G. Hovannisian. ed. Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. Volume 1 p.81. ). Grousset Ren (1947). Histoire de l'Armnie (1984 ed.). Payot. p. 122. . Estimated dates vary from 284 to 314. Garsoan (op.cit. p.82) following the research of Ananian favours the latter. "The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia Article 8.1". President.am. http://www.president.am/library/constitution/eng/pn1. Retrieved 2010-12-30.  Today.Az - EU hopes to sign Association Agreement with Armenia in near future EUROPA - Press Releases - EU launches negotiations on Association Agreements with Armenia Azerbaijan and Georgia Armenia-EU association agreement may be concluded shortly Armenia News - NEWS.am 3rd PLENARY ROUND OF THE EU-ARMENIA NEGOTIATIONS ON THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT http://europa.eu/abc/europeancountries/others/indexen.htm PM Sargsyan: European integration important for Armenia's development - PanARMENIAN.Net Public Radio of Armenia Information Center - Official News - The Government of the Republic of Armenia Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the NATO Armenia to Step up European Integration Efforts Yerevan Report Razmik Panossian The Armenians: From Kings And Priests to Merchants And Commissars Columbia University Press (2006) ISBN 978-0-231-13926-7 p. 106. " (The Armenians border on the Chalybes to the south)". Chahin Mark (2001). The Kingdom of Armenia. London: Routledge. pp. fr. 203. ISBN 978-0-7007-1452-0.  Xenophon. Anabasis. pp. IV.v.29.  Moses of ChoreneThe History of Armenia Book 1 Ch. 12 (Russian) History of Armenia by Father Michael Chamich from B.C. 2247 to the Year of Christ 1780 or 1229 of the Armenian era Bishop's College Press Calcutta 1827 page 19: "Aram was the first to raise the Armenian name to any degree of renown; so that contemporary nations ... called them the Aramians or followers of Aram a name which has been corrupted into Armenians; and the country they inhabited by universal consent took the name of Armenia." "The first leather shoe". CNN. http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-09/world/armenia.old.shoe1shoe-cave-leathersPM:WORLD. Retrieved 2007-11-15.  "National Geographic: the first wine-making facility in Armenia". National Geographic. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110111-oldest-wine-press-making-winery-armenia-science-ucla/. Retrieved 2007-11-15.  Kurkjian Vahan (1958). History of Armenia (1964 ed.). Michigan: Armenian General Benevolent Union. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Asia/Armenia/Texts/KURARM/home.html. Retrieved 2009-07-22.  Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia. Yerevan: Armenian Encyclopedia. 1987. pp. v. 12.  Movsisyan Artak (2000). Sacred Highland: Armenia in the spiritual conception of the Near East. Yerevan.  Kavoukjian Martiros (1982). The Genesis of Armenian People. Montreal.  a b "The World Factbook: Armenia". CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/am.html. Retrieved 2007-11-15.  Brunner Borgna (2006). Time Almanac with Information Please 2007. New York: Time Home Entertainment. p. 685. ISBN 978-1-933405-49-0.  H. Nahavandi Y. Bomati Shah Abbas empereur de Perse (1587-1629) (Perrin Paris 1998) "Philippe Buache: Retraite Des Dix Mille Tabula conspectum exhibens Regionum omnium quas Cyrus Junior . . . MDCCLXXX". Raremaps.com. http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/22549/RetraiteDesDixMilleTabulaconspectumexhibensRegionumomniumquas/Buache.html. Retrieved 2010-12-30.  "Armenia". Encyclopdia Britannica. Kirakosian J. S. (1972) (in Armenian). Hayastane michazkayin divanakitut'yan ew sovetakan artakin kaghakakanut'yan pastateghterum 18281923 (Armenia in the documents of international diplomacy and Soviet foreign policy 18281923). Yerevan. pp. 149358.  "Extensive bibliography by University of Michigan on the Armenian Genocide". Umd.umich.edu. http://www.umd.umich.edu/dept/armenian/facts/genbib1.html. Retrieved 2010-12-30.  "Encyclopdia Britannica: Armenian massacres (Turkish-Armenian history)". Britannica.com. 2009-12-14. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/35323/Armenian-massacres. Retrieved 2010-12-30.  Q&A: Armenian genocide dispute. BBC News. 10 July 2008. Hovannisian Richard and Simon Payaslian. Armenian Cilicia. Costa Mesa: Mazda Publishers Inc. 2008. 483. Print. Ronald G. Suny James Nichol Darrell L. Slider. Armenia Azerbaijan and Georgia. Federal Research Division Library of Congress. 1995. p.17 and following C. Mouradian L'Armenie sovietique pp. 278-9 Eastern Europe Russia and Central Asia 2004 Page 74 by Imogen Gladman Taylor & Francis Group Notes from Baku: Black January. Rufat Ahmedov. EurasiaNet Human Rights. "The March Referendum". http://soviethistory.org/index.phpactionL2&SubjectID1991march&Year1991. Retrieved 2008-11-10.  Croissant Michael P. (1998). The Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: Causes and Implications. London: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-96241-8.  "The Ties That Divide". Global Heritage Fund. 2006-06-17. Archived from the original on April 5 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080405071809/http://www.globalheritagefund.org/news/GHFinthenews/economisttiesthatdividejune1706.asp. Retrieved 2009-07-22.  De Waal Thomas (2004). Black Garden: Armenia And Azerbaijan Through Peace and War. New York: New York University Press. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-8147-1945-9.  A Conflict That Can Be Resolved in Time: Nagorno-Karabakh. International Herald Tribune. 29 November 2003. a b "Index of Economic Freedom 2009". The Heritage Foundation. http://www.heritage.org/Index/Ranking.aspx.  "Geographic Characteristic of The Republic of Armenia". Marzes of the Republic of Armenia in Figures 20022006. National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia. 2007. http://www.armstat.am/file/article/marz07e2.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-22.  "Address by President Serzh Sargsyan to the People of Armenia and the National Assembly on 2 October 2008". President.am. http://www.president.am/events/statements/eng/id21. Retrieved 2010-12-30.  "Nations in Transit 2008" (PDF). Freedom House. http://www.freedomhouse.hu/images/fdhgalleries/NIT2008/02tables.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-26.  "Nations in Transit 2008: Armenia" (PDF). Freedom House. http://www.freedomhouse.hu/images/fdhgalleries/NIT2008/NT-Armenia-final.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-26.  "Freedom in the World 2007" (PDF). Freedom House. http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/pressrelease/fiw07charts.pdf. Retrieved 2007-02-20.  Danielyan Emil (2008-02-20). "Armenian Vote 'Largely Democratic'". ArmeniaLiberty Radio Free Europe. http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/02/14B31960-C791-4274-B7F0-50B571D0EADD.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-20.  a b "Nagorno-Karabakh: The Crisis in the Caucasus". http://www.cfr.org/publication/9148/. Retrieved 2007-04-06.  1dead link "Baku and Moscow 'One Hundred Percent Strategic Partners'". Hetq Online. 2006-02-27. http://archive.hetq.am/eng/politics/0602-az.html. Retrieved 2008-04-20. dead link "Ancestry Data". U.S. Census Bureau. 2006. Archived from the original on April 03 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080403032043/http%3A//www.armenianchurch.org/heritage/history/america.html. Retrieved 2009-07-22.  The 2001 Canadian Census determined that there are 40505 persons of Armenian ancestry currently living in Canada. However these are liable to be low numbers since people of mixed ancestry very common in North America tend to be under-counted: the 1990 census U.S. indicates 149694 people who speak Armenian at home. The Armenian Embassy in Canada estimates 1 million ethnic Armenians in the U.S. and 100000 in Canada. The Armenian Church of America makes a similar estimate. By all accounts over half of the Armenians in the United States live in California. "RFE/RL Caucasus Report". Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2005-01-07. http://www.armeniaforeignministry.am/news/inthenews/050107eu.html. Retrieved 2009-07-22.  "Interview with RA National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan". ArmInfo News Agency. 2005-10-26. http://www.arminfo.am/political-issue22.html. Retrieved 2009-07-22. dead link Freedom House: Annual Report 2005: Armenia "KFOR Contingent: Armenia". Official Web Site of the Kosovo Force. 2007-03-23. http://www.nato.int/kfor/structur/nations/armenia.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-27.  "Last shift of Armenian peacekeepers in Iraq returns home". Ministry of Defence. 2008-10-07. http://www.mil.am/eng/index.phppage2&p0&id633&y2008&m10&d29. Retrieved 2008-10-29.  "Regional Administration Bodies". The Government of the Republic of Armenia. http://www.gov.am/en/regions/. Retrieved 2008-09-11.  Demourian Avet (2007-10-19). "Armenian Eyes Ears on US Genocide Vote". washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/19/AR2007101901471.html. Retrieved 2009-07-07.  a b Z. Lerman and A. Mirzakhanian Private Agriculture in Armenia Lexington Books Lanham MD 2001. Statistical Yearbook 2007 Armenia National Statistical Service Yerevan "Statistics". UNDP. http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/. Retrieved 2008-04-25.  "Corruption Perceptions Index 2007". http://www.transparency.org/policyresearch/surveysindices/cpi/2007. Retrieved 2008-04-25.  "Statistical Yearbook of Armenia 2009: Population". ArmStat. http://www.armstat.am/file/doc/99458058.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-09.  World Gazetteer online Turay Anna. "Tarihte Ermeniler". Bolsohays:Istanbul Armenians Like many other ethnicities Armenians in India too have played a role historically and had an impact historically. Today however the community has been reduced to about a hundred living in Calcutta.. Archived from the original on 2008-02-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20080209171028/http://www.bolsohays.com/webac.aspreferans1. Retrieved 2007-01-04.  "Jerusalem The Old City: The Armenian Quarter". Jewish Virtual Library. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society&Culture/geo/armenianq.html. Retrieved 2009-07-22.  "San Lazzaro degli Armeni Venice for Visitors". Europeforvisitors.com. http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/sanlazzarodegliarmeni.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-30.  "Population in Nagorno-Karabakh 2007". National Statistical Service of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Archived from the original on 2010-04-16. http://www.webcitation.org/5p1nNnVNJ. Retrieved 2009-07-22.  Asatryan Garnik; Arakelova Victoria (2002). The Ethnic Minorities of Armenia. Routledge  part of the OSCE (Russian) The All-Union Population Census of 1989. Demoscope.ru "Problems of Bilingualism in Armenia" (PDF). http://www.lingref.com/isb/4/092ISB4.PDF. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  : "In 1999 the decision of the Government of Armenia that the Russian language would be used in the system of education and cultural and social life of the Republic of Armenia was approved and adopted. This decision contained the concept about a place and role of the Russian language in the system of education." "Russian Language Enjoying a Boost in Post-Soviet States". Gallup.com. http://www.gallup.com/poll/109228/russian-language-enjoying-boost-postsoviet-states.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-15.  a b c "Microsoft Word - cjl - ARMMPSEUROcountryprofile.doc" (PDF). http://www.euro.who.int/document/MPS/ARMMPSEUROcountryprofile.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-25. dead link "Human Development Report 2009 Armenia". Hdrstats.undp.org. http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/datasheets/ctydsARM.html. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  "Armenia Which Nation First Adopted Christianity". Ancienthistory.about.com. 2009-10-29. http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/neareast/f/1stchristian.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  "Visit Armenia It is Beautiful". Visitarmenia.org. http://www.visitarmenia.org/. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  "Armenia Information Welcome to Armenia". Welcomearmenia.com. http://www.welcomearmenia.com/main.phppagearmeniainformation&sid104&langeng. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  "Blog Archive  Which is the first country to adopt Christianity". Did You Know it. http://www.didyouknow.it/religion/first-country-to-adopt-christianity/. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  "The Armenian Apostolic Church (World Council of Churches)". http://www.oikoumene.org/id5211.  "". http://armbaplife.am/.  "". http://bwanet.org/default.aspxpid437. dead link "Despite poverty Baptists prosper in Armenia". Biblical Recorder. Baptist State convention of North Carolina. 2004-07-17. http://goodnewsadvertising.com/biblicalrecorder.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-28.  "By Location". Adherents.com. http://adherents.com/adhloc/Wh18.html. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  "Armenian Presbyterian Church to Commemorate 1700th Anniversary of Christianity in Armenia with Concert and Khachkar Dedication". The Armenian Reporter. 2001-10-20. http://highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79125406.html. Retrieved 2011-05-21.  "PC(USA) Presbyterian Peacemaking Program International Peacemaking Dr. Nazeli Vardanyan Armenia". Pcusa.org. 2009-12-11. http://pcusa.org/peacemaking/intl/09peacemakers/armenia-nazeli.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-25. dead link Cornelius Janet Duitsman (1999). Slave missions and the Black church ... Google Books. Books.google.com. ISBN 978-1-57003-247-9. http://books.google.com/idaGGdyAlobAEC&pgPA120. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Curtis Glenn E. and Ronald G. Suny. "Education". Armenia: A Country Study. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (March 1994). This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain. "Ambassadors in Sport: Independent Armenia far below the glory of Soviet times on the pitch mat Features". ArmeniaNow.com. http://armenianow.com/actionviewArticle&AID1910&CID1973&IID&lngeng. Retrieved 2010-01-25.  "Armenia Now". Armenia Now. http://armenianow.com/actionviewArticle&AID1910&CID1973&IID&lngeng. Retrieved 2010-12-30.  "Chess News - BBC lecture: Armenia the cleverest nation on earth". ChessBase.com. http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.aspnewsid6679. Retrieved 2010-12-30.  External links Armenian language edition of Wikipedia Find more about Armenia on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Images and media from Commons Learning resources from Wikiversity News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Government Government of Armenia The Judiciary of Armenia Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority Armenian Customs Service Central Electoral Commission Chief of State and Cabinet Members General information Armenia entry at The World Factbook Armenia at UCB Libraries GovPubs Armenia at the Open Directory Project Wikimedia Atlas of Armenia  Chisholm Hugh ed (1911). "Armenia". Encyclopdia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press.  Travel Armeniainfo.am official government Tourist Board Zvartnots International Airport Armenia travel guide from Wikitravel Other Armeniapedia.org Armenian wiki (primarily English) Central Bank of Armenia  Articles Related to Armenia v d eAdministrative divisions of Armenia Marzer () Aragatsotn  Ararat  Armavir  Gegharkunik  Kotayk  Lori  Shirak  Syunik  Tavush  Vayots Dzor City with special status Yerevan (capital) v d e Cities and towns in Armenia Abovyan  Achajur  Agarak  Aghavnatun  Akhtala  Akhuryan  Aknalich  Akunk  Alapars  Alaverdi  Aparan  Aqori  Aralez  Ararat  Aratashen  Arevashogh  Arevik  Arevshat  Argavand  Arinj  Armavir  Arshaluys  Artashat  Arteni  Artik  Artsvaberd  Artsvanist  Artsvashen  Arzakan  Arzni  Ashotsk  Ashtarak  Astghadzor  Avshar  Aygavan  Aygedzor  Aygehovit  Aygestan  Aygezard  Ayrum  Azatan  Azatavan  Berd  Bjni  Byureghavan  Chambarak  Charentsavan  Dastakert  Dilijan  Dzoragyukh  Echmiadzin  Gandzakar  Gavar  Geghanist  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Tsovak  Tumanyan  Udjan  Urtsadzor  Vaghashen  Vanadzor  Vanashen  Vardadzor  Vardenik  Vardenis  Vayk  Vedi  Verin Artashat  Verishen  Voskehat  Vosketap  Voskevaz  Vostan  Yeghegnadzor  Yeghvard  Yeranus  Yerevan  Zolakar  Zovuni  Zvartnots v d eWorld Heritage Sites in Armenia Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin  Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley  Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin (Saint Hripsime Saint Gayane Shoghakat) and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots Sites on the Tentative List: The archaeological site of the city of Dvin   The basilica and archaeological site of Yererouk   The monastery of Noravank and the upper Amaghou Valley   The monasteries of Tatev and Tatevi Anapat and the adjacent areas of the Vorotan Valley   Geographic locale v d eCountries and regions of the Caucasus      Abkhazia  Adygea  Adjara  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Chechnya  Dagestan  Georgia  Ingushetia  Karachay-Cherkessia  Kabardino-Balkaria  Krasnodar Krai  Nagorno-Karabakh  Nakhchivan  North Ossetia-Alania  Stavropol Krai v d eCountries of Western Asia Armenia  Azerbaijan  Bahrain  Cyprus  Georgia  Iran  Iraq  Israel  Jordan  Kuwait  Lebanon  Oman  Palestinian territories (Gaza Strip and West Bank)  Qatar  Saudi Arabia  Syria  Turkey  United Arab Emirates  Yemen v d eSovereign states and dependent territories of Europe Sovereign states Albania  Andorra  Armenia  Austria  Azerbaijan  Belarus  Belgium  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Bulgaria  Croatia  Cyprus  Czech Republic  Denmark  Estonia  Finland  France  Georgia  Germany  Greece   Hungary  Iceland  Ireland  Italy  Kazakhstan  Latvia  Liechtenstein  Lithuania  Luxembourg  Macedonia  Malta  Moldova  Monaco  Montenegro  Netherlands  Norway  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Russia  San Marino  Serbia  Slovakia  Slovenia  Spain  Sweden  Switzerland  Turkey  Ukraine  United Kingdom  Vatican City States with limited recognition Abkhazia  Kosovo  Nagorno-Karabakh  Northern Cyprus  South Ossetia  Transnistria Dependencies and other territories Denmark Faroe Islands Finland land Islands Norway Svalbard United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia  Gibraltar  Guernsey  Isle of Man  Jersey  International membership v d eInternational organizations with Armenia as member ADB  BSEC  CE  CIS  CSTO  EAPC  EBRD  ECE  EAEC  ESCAP  FAO  IAEA  IBRD  ICAO  ICFTU  ICRM  IDA  IFAD  IFC  IFRCS  ILO  IMF  Interpol  IOC  IOM  ISO  ITU  LF  NACC  NAM  OPCW  OSCE  PACE  PFP  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO  UNIDO  UPU  UNWTO  WHO  WIPO  WMO  WNO  WTO Italics indicates observer status v d eCouncil of Europe Institutions Secretary General  Committee of Ministers  Parliamentary Assembly  Congress  Court of Human Rights  Commissioner for Human Rights  Commission for the Efficiency of Justice  Commission against Racism and Intolerance Members Full Albania  Andorra  Armenia  Austria  Azerbaijan  Belgium  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Bulgaria  Croatia  Cyprus  Czech Republic  Denmark  Estonia  Finland  France  Georgia  Germany  Greece  Hungary  Iceland  Ireland  Italy  Latvia  Liechtenstein  Lithuania  Luxembourg  Macedonia1  Malta  Moldova  Monaco  Montenegro  Netherlands  Norway  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Russia  San Marino  Serbia  Slovakia  Slovenia  Spain  Sweden  Switzerland  Turkey  Ukraine  United Kingdom Observer Canada  Israel  Japan  Mexico  United States  Vatican City Former Czechoslovakia (19911992)  Saar (assoc. 19501956) 1 Provisionally referred to by the Council of Europe as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"; see Macedonia naming dispute. v d eCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Armenia  Azerbaijan  Belarus  Kazakhstan  Kyrgyzstan  Russia  Tajikistan  Uzbekistan  Moldova Associate member: Turkmenistan  Ukraine  Former member: Georgia (1993-2009) v d eMember states and observers of the Francophonie Members Albania  Andorra  Armenia  Belgium (French Community)  Benin  Bulgaria  Burkina Faso  Burundi  Cambodia  Cameroon  Canada (New Brunswick  Quebec)  Cape Verde  Central African Republic  Chad  Comoros  Cyprus1  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Republic of the Congo  Cte d'Ivoire  Djibouti  Dominica  Egypt  Equatorial Guinea  France (French Guiana  Guadeloupe  Martinique  St. Pierre and Miquelon)  Gabon  Ghana1  Greece  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Haiti  Laos  Luxembourg  Lebanon  Macedonia2  Madagascar  Mali  Mauritania  Mauritius  Moldova  Monaco  Morocco  Niger  Romania  Rwanda  St. Lucia  So Tom and Prncipe  Senegal  Seychelles  Switzerland  Togo  Tunisia  Vanuatu  Vietnam Observers Austria  Croatia  Czech Republic  Dominican Republic  Georgia  Hungary  Latvia  Lithuania  Mozambique  Poland  Serbia  Slovakia  Slovenia  Thailand  Ukraine 1 Associate member. 2 Provisionally referred to by the Francophonie as the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"; see Macedonia naming dispute. v d eWorld Trade Organization System Accession and membership  Appellate Body  Dispute Settlement Body  International Trade Centre  Chronology of key events Issues Criticism  Doha Development Round  Singapore issues  Quota Elimination  Peace Clause Agreements General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade  Agriculture  Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Technical Barriers to Trade  Trade Related Investment Measures  Trade in Services  Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  Government Procurement  Information Technology  Marrakech Agreement  Doha Declaration Ministerial Conferences 1st (1996)  2nd (1998)  3rd (1999)  4th (2001)  5th (2003)  6th (2005)  7th (2009) People Pascal Lamy (Director-General)  Supachai Panitchpakdi (Former Director-General)  Deputy Directors-General: Alejandro Jara  Valentine Rugwabiza   Harsha Singh   Rufus Yerxa Members Albania  Algeria  Angola  Antigua and Barbuda  Argentina  Armenia  Australia  Bahrain  Bangladesh  Barbados  Belize  Benin  Bolivia  Botswana  Brazil  Brunei  Burkina Faso  Burma  Burundi  Cambodia  Cameroon  Canada  Cape Verde  Central African Republic  Chad  Chile  PR China  Colombia  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Republic of the Congo  Costa Rica  Cte d'Ivoire  Croatia  Cuba  Djibouti  Dominica  Dominican Republic  Ecuador  Egypt  El Salvador  European Union  Fiji  Gabon  The Gambia  Georgia  Ghana  Grenada  Guatemala  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Guyana  Haiti  Honduras  Hong Kong  Iceland  India  Indonesia  Israel  Jamaica  Japan  Jordan  Kenya  South Korea  Kuwait  Kyrgyzstan  Lesotho  Liechtenstein  Macau  Macedonia  Madagascar  Malawi  Malaysia  Maldives  Mali  Mauritania  Mauritius  Mexico  Moldova  Mongolia  Morocco  Mozambique  Namibia  Nepal  New Zealand  Nicaragua  Niger  Nigeria  Norway  Oman  Pakistan  Panama  Papua New Guinea  Paraguay  Peru  Philippines  Qatar  Rwanda  St. Kitts and Nevis  St. Lucia  St. Vincent and the Grenadines  Saudi Arabia  Senegal  Sierra Leone  Singapore  Solomon Islands  South Africa  Sri Lanka  Suriname  Swaziland  Switzerland  Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan Penghu Kinmen and Matsu  Tanzania  Thailand  Togo  Tonga  Trinidad and Tobago  Tunisia  Turkey  Uganda  Ukraine  United Arab Emirates  United States  Uruguay  Venezuela  Vietnam  Zambia  Zimbabwe All twenty-seven member states of the European Union are also members of the WTO in their own right: Austria  Belgium  Bulgaria  Cyprus  Czech Republic  Denmark  Estonia  Finland  France  Germany  Greece  Hungary  Ireland  Italy  Latvia  Lithuania  Luxembourg  Malta  Netherlands  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Slovakia  Slovenia  Spain  Sweden  United Kingdom. Special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. Designated name for the Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan) v d eOrganization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)      Albania  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Bulgaria  Georgia  Greece  Moldova  Romania  Russia  Serbia  Turkey  Ukraine v d eNational personifications Argentina: Effigies of Argentina  Armenia: Mother Armenia  Brazil: Efgie da Repblica  Cambodia: Preah Thaong and Neang Neak  Canada: Johnny Canuck  Finland: Finnish Maiden (Suomi-neito)  France: Marianne  Germany: Deutscher Michel Germania  Greece: Athena "Greece" of Delacroix  Iceland: Lady of the Mountain  India: Bharat Mata  Indonesia: Ibu Pertiwi  Ireland: riu Hibernia Kathleen Ni Houlihan  Israel: Srulik  Italy: Italia Turrita  Japan: Amaterasu  Indonesia: Ibu Pertiwi (East Malaysia)  Netherlands: Netherlands Maiden  New Zealand: Zealandia  Norway: Ola Nordmann  Pakistan: Pak Watan  Philippines: Juan dela Cruz Maria Clara  Poland: Polonia  Portugal: Efgie da Repblica Z Povinho  Russia: Mother Russia  Spain: Hispania  Sweden: Mother Svea  Switzerland: Helvetia  Ukraine: Cossack Mamay  United Kingdom: Britannia John Bull (England) Dame Wales (Wales)  United States: Brother Jonathan Columbia Uncle Sam Billy Yank (northern states) / Johnny Reb (southern states)