About Armenia

Armenia is a Parliamentary Republican state. The 1995 constitution defines Armenia as an indepei democratic state, providing for a presidential system of rule. Multi-party politics is guaranteed, .as_;

individual's right to own property. The president is elected in national elections to serve a, five-year Executive power is exercised through a cabinet made up of the prime minister and other ministers. The pres appoints the prime minister and, upon the latter's recommendation, the ministers of the government current president is Robert Kocharyan who was elected in March 1998 after serving as a prime minister i government of Levon Ter-Petrossyan. According to the constitution, legislative power is exercised throug National Assembly, a 131 -member body elected to serve a four-year term.

Armenia is divided into 11 regions, with Yerevan considered one region. Local self-governmt exercised in cities, towns and villages through mayors and local councils elected to serve three-year terms. Yei is further divided into several communities. Regional governors are responsible for carrying out the nat government' s policies for their areas.

The president is responsible for guaranteeing the independence of the judicial system, which is mai
of three levels of general competence courts - primary courts, review courts and the Court of Appeal. The Co
of Justice, headed by the president, and including the justice minister and chief prosecutor, is a 14-member
charged with overseeing the judicial system. The Constitutional Court decides whether the decisions o
National Assembly, President and Government are constitutional. " %

Political parties range from communists to nationalists, with liberal democrats and socialists in befr Armenia is a member of the United Nations, Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe, Eurc Nation and Commonwealth of Independent States.

No work permit is required for foreign nationals to take up employment in the country. No mandatory immunizations are required for travelers visiting Armenia. Armenia is four hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 4) from April to September and three hours ahead from October to March (GMT + 3).

Armenia was one of the most industrialized republics of the former Soviet Union with a well-developed high technology sector. The main industries were engineering, electronics, chemicals and energy, with 95% of the industrial output being exported within the Soviet Union. The demise of the Soviet Union in 1991 and subsequent collapse of intra-Soviet trade led to a contraction of the economy and hyperinflation. In addition, Armenia was affected by political and regional instability from 1991 to 1994, resulting in a slow-down in the pace of economic restructuring. In recent years, however, the economy has seen significant progress. The country has taken major strides toward creating a market economy with the implementation of a wide-ranging program of land, services and industry privatization.

Working in close co-ordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the introduction of substantial structural reforms combined with tightened fiscal and monetary policies, has brought about a relatively high degree of macroeconomic stability.

Real GDP growth of 3.1% was recorded in 1997. Infrastructure developments and an increase in investments have seen real GDP growth increase to 5.5% for 1998 while industrial production increased by 3*2%. GDP per capita is estimated to have risen steadily from US$176 in 1994 to US$429 in 1997.

Air access to Armenia is through the country's two international airports at Zvartnots, outside Yerevan, and Shirak in Gyumri. The state owned carrier, Armenian Airlines operates a fleet of 14 aircraft flying to various destinations in Europe, the CIS, and the Middle East. Various foreign carriers also operate flights to Yerevan and Gyurnri and include Aeroflot, British Airways and Swissair. In 1994, funding was approved by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to begin work on constructing a new US$22.8 million cargo terminal at Zvartnots.

The terminal opened in 1998 and has helped to improve domestic and international cargo handling. The partial [ lifting by Turkey of its ban on flights to Armenia has helped to foster limited air transportation between the two I countries. Yerevan has direct air connection with Amsterdam, Athens, Beirut, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Larnaca, I London, Moscow, Paris, St. Petersburg, Tashkent, Tehran, Zurich, etc

Overland road routes connect Armenia with each of its neighbors, however, those through Azerbaijan I and Turkey remain closed owing to the ongoing blockade of Armenia by these countries. Two routes remain | open through Georgia providing access to the Black Sea ports of Batumi and Poti, as well as one route through j Iran to the Persian Gulf. The road network is relatively well developed with over 98% of interstate roads paved, A US$35 million highway project credit from the World Bank has been extended to improve maintenance and I repair of tunnels and bridges and facilitate greater private sector development. Rail links through Turkey and I Azerbaijan are closed, which has severely restricted the flow of goods into the country. Routes through Georgia and Iran remain open.

Yerevan has a well-developed public transit system with subway, tram, buses, trolley buses andl minivans operating. Most people in the capital use public transit. The government has undertaken efforts to I upgrade the subway system through the Metro Rehabilitation Program, a US $1.5 million project supported by I the European Union to improve drainage in different underground stations. Efforts to place the public transit I system on a more commercial footing are also underway to ensure its long-term financial viability.

Taxis and private cars are available and can be booked through a hotel. The average cost of a taxi from I the airport outside the capital to the center of the city is US$10.

With the exception of nationals from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), all visitors to L Armenia must hold a valid passport and entry visa. Passports and passport replacing documents must be valid I at all times regardless of visa status. Noncompliance with the entry regulations may result in deportation of the I passenger and fines for the transporting airlines. Single or multiple entry visas can be obtained from any I Armenian diplomatic mission overseas or from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately upon arrival in the I country. Visitors may apply for either a business, diplomatic, ordinary or tourist visa. Visa applications I normally require a letter of invitation from a sponsoring body inside the country. Applications without a letter I of invitation may be granted for a period up to 21 days, while those with an invitation may be granted for a I period of duration required. Transit visas are issued for a maximum of three days. Double and multiple entry | transit visas are also available and are granted for a period up to one year. Visas valid for one year are also I available once the applicant is in the country. Fees for visas range from US$30 to US$70 depending on the I category. A one-year visa costs approximately US$200. Nationals and alien residents of Armenia are required to hold an exit permit when leaving the country. Governmental Exit Duty is levied on all passengers embarking in Armenia for destinations abroad (AMD 10.000 or approximately USD 20). Place of payment - airport of I departure. Exempt are: transit passengers, children under 12 years of age, holders of diplomatic passports, I holders of UN Laissez-Passers.

Import. Free import of 400 cigarettes; 2 liters or 1 bottle of alcohol (regardless of how many liters! contained); 5 kg perfume or an amount valued up to USD 500; personal goods valued up to USD 500 (for residents and non-residents). The Customs Declaration filled out on arrival must be retained by the passenger, Military arms and ammunition, narcotics, pornographic materials, fruits and vegetables without proper documents are prohibited. Live animals must be accompanied by a veterinarian health certificate.

Export. Free export of 2,000 cigarettes; 20 liters of alcohol. The Customs Declaration filled out on arrival must be presented. Military arms and ammunition, narcotics, pornographic materials, fruits and vegetables without proper documents are prohibited. Pieces of art should be accompanied by a document from the Ministry of Culture authorizing export. Passenger must hold a photo of each piece of art. Passengers must pay a tax at the airport of approximately USD 10 per piece of art.

State enterprise ArmenTel Telephone Communication was privatized in 1998 through its sale to OTE, a Greek telecommunications company. This Armenian-Greek joint venture operates both domestic and international lines. In Yerevan the telephone network is being digitized by ArmenTel. A separate international service is offered by ArmenTel that makes use of a satellite connection through InteleSat, AT&T, TeleGlobe, FranceTel, Sprint and British Telecom. The IDD code for the country is 374 followed by the area code (1 for Yerevan). Cellular phone and paging services available and are gaining in popularity (374-9 for cellular and 189 for Paging Service).

The postal system is run by Hai Post, a state-owned enterprise. Service is becoming rather regular and reliable. Private courier services, including American Express, DHL, and Federal Express operate in most major cities. There are at present three Internet service providers operating in the country with a subscriber base of approximately 10,000.

A wide range of newspapers and periodicals are published, the majority of which are in Armenian with some published in Russian. Popular Armenian-language publications include Hajastani Hanrapetutiun, Azg, Yerkir, Aravot, etc; business papers include Kommersant Armenii and Express. Russian-language publications include Delovoy Express and Goios Armenii. A weekly English-language paper, Noyan Japan, is also published along with daily business papers ARKA and SNARK. Armenpress, the Armenian state press agency, was privatized in 1997 when it was transformed into a joint stock company.

Broadcasting is regulated by the Ministry of Communications which is responsible for transmitting facilities. There are two public television stations operating - State Television and Radio Broadcasting, which also runs a national radio station, and Armenian Television. Both broadcast in Armenian. A second radio station, Armenian Radio, broadcasts in Armenian, Russian and Kurdish. There are also a number of private television (Armenia TV, A1+, AR, etc.) and radio stations (ARDZAGANK, HAY FM, RADIO HAY, RADIO VAN, NAZARETH, etc). Most hotels offer satellite television including the BBC World Service, CNN, NBC and Euronews.

Office hours are generally from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Government offices close at 5:00 p.m. Banks operate slightly shorter hours opening at 9:30 a.m. and closing at 4:30 p.m. Retail shops operate seven days a week and are generally open from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a few shops open 24 hours a day. Armenians are well known for their generous and hospitable nature. Socializing over dinner with associates is quite common for most business dealing and lengthy toasts are a common feature. Business cards are presented upon first contact. Owing to the state of telecommunications in the country, replies may take what might be considered an unusually long time and should be factored into any negotiation.

Wine making is part of the Armenian culture. The Armenian brandy and various wines are of the highest quality. The generous sun of the Ararat Valley, the fertile land and good quality water gives the Armenian brandy its gold color and extraordinary taste. Winston Churchill, the ex-prime minister of the United Kingdom, preferred Armenian brandy Dvin over all other alcoholic drinks. The most popular Armenian beers are Kotayk and Kilikia. During your visit to Armenia you will have a unique chance to taste the famous Armenian wines, beer and brandy. Armenia is also famous for its mineral waters. The mineral waters of Jermuk, Bjni, Sevan, Lori, Dilijan, Hankavan, Arzni, etc. are known to be tasty and healthy dinner drinks.

I, 2 January - New Year; 6 January - Armenian Christmas; 7 April - Motherhood and Beauty Day; 24 April -1915 Genocide Memorial Day; 9 May - Victory and Peace Day; 28 May -First Republic Day; 5 July -Constitution Day; 21 September - Independence Day; 7 December - 1988 Earthquake Memorial Day; 31 December - New Year's Eve