TWINNING PROJECT Strengthening the Public Internal Financial Control in the Republic of

CAPITAL: POPULATION: 2.8 million in the Republic of Armenia, around 10 million in the world LANGUAGE: Armenian RELIGION: Armenian Apostolic Church TIME: GMT+4 (Armenia is no longer switching its time) AREA: 29,800 sq km NATIONAL CURRENCY: (AMD) MORE INFO: www. armeniainfo.am

Armenia is a landlocked mountainous country in the South Caucasus region. It borders with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Nagorno Kharabagh. 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 in the world to adopt Christianity as its religion in 301AD. The modern Republic of Armenia recognizes the Armenian Apostolic Church, the world's oldest national church, as the country's primary religious establishment. Armenians have their own unique alphabet invented by Mesrob Mashtots in 406 AD. Armenia is well known for the . The Bible says that Noah's ark landed on the mountains of Ararat. This does not refer to any specific mountain or peak, but rather a mountain range within the region of Ararat, which was the name of an ancient proto- Armenian kingdom also known as Urartu. 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, as a result Azerbaijan instigated a railway and air blockade against Armenia. In 1993, Turkey joined the blockade against Armenia in support of Azerbaijan. This is the reason that Armenia's cargo and goods arrive through Georgia, Iran and air traffic. Armenia is also known for the Genocide which was centrally planned and administered by the Turkish government against the entire Armenian population of the . It was carried out during W.W.I between the years 1915 and 1918. The Armenian people were subjected to deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre, and starvation. The great bulk of the Armenian population was forcibly removed from Armenia and Anatolia to , where the vast majority was sent into the desert to die of thirst and hunger. Large numbers of Armenians were methodically massacred throughout the Ottoman Empire. Women and children were abducted and horribly abused. The entire wealth of the Armenian people was expropriated. In 1915, thirty-three years before UN Genocide Convention was adopted, the was condemned by the international community as a crime against humanity.

WELCOME TO ARMENIA—HAYASTAN

CLIMATE 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 °C (72 and 97 °F). However, the low humidity level mitigates the effect of high temperatures. 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 Tsaghkadzor, located thirty minutes outside Yerevan. , nestled up in the Armenian highlands, is the second largest lake in the world relative to its altitude, at 1,900 meters (6,234 ft) over sea level.

EU - ARMENIA RELATIONS EU relations with Armenia are governed by the EU-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 1996 and entered into force in 1999. Armenia became part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2004. The ENP Action Plan was discussed by the EU and the Armenian government and adopted on November 14, 2006.

VISA TO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA Starting from January 2013, all EU citizens are allowed to enter the Republic of Armenia without visa and stay here not more than 180 days per year.

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TWINNING PROJECT Strengthening the Public Internal Financial Control in the Republic of Armenia

USEFUL LINKS AND ADDRESSES

The Twinning office location is in the heart of the city – at the Republic Square, at the Government Building. It is within easy reach from the hotels and leisure-time venues.

Ministry of Finance Address 1 Melik Adamyan Street, 3rd floor, room 315, 0010 Yerevan (please, ensure your ID availability with you for the entrance)

ACCOMMODATION

The Twinning Project has special price offers for the following hotels: Best Western Congress Hotel Golden Tulip Hotel Single room: 38 400 AMD Single room: 50 000 AMD Address: Italy street 1, Yerevan Address: 14 Abovian street, Yerevan Tel: +37410 59 11 99 Phone: + 37410 591 600 Fax: +374 10 52 22 24 Fax: + 37410 591 666 www.congresshotelyerevan.com/bestwestern http://www.goldentulipyerevan.com/

TAXI SERVICE Aero Taxi (from Airport to the Hotel) +374 55 489050 +374 10 771100 AMD 4000 www.aerotaxi.am Taxi Line: 096 644-644, 077 644-644, 060 644-644, 055 644-644 1 km 100 AMD

SUPERMARKETS AND PHARMACIES: Many of the big chain supermarkets are open 24 hours “SAS” - Tumanyan street 31, Yerevan 18, Yerevan “Moskvichka” – 3/56 Northern Avenue, Yerevan

The majority of the pharmacies are open 24 hours.

BANKS AND ATMs Please note that you can withdraw only national currency from the ATMs. There are many ATMs in the center of Yerevan in every hotel, supermarkets. Different ATMs may charge commissions.

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TWINNING PROJECT Strengthening the Public Internal Financial Control in the Republic of Armenia

GETTING AROUND THE CITY

Recommended RESTAURANTS

Kovkazkaya Plennitsa: 4/6 Amiryan Str. Cuisine: Caucasian Tel: +37410 548 291

Hin Erivan: 2 Northern Avenue Cuisine: Caucasian Tel: +374-10-588855

Kovkazsiky Dvorik: 25 Sayat-Nova Str. Cuisine: Caucasian Tel: +374-10-542714

The Cascade Shaurma: 32 Tumanyan Str.

Cuisine: Caucasian fast food

Tel: +37410 549933

Khinkali: Tumanyan street (close to the Opera House)

Cuisine: South Caucasian

Paulaner Beer -House: 6 Tamanyan Str. (at the Cascade)

Cuisine: Continental

Tel: +374 10 543800

Wasabi: 1/3 Abovyan St., Yerevan

Te:l +37410 565422

Cuisine: Japanese

Cactus: Mashtots avenue 42, Yerevan (close to the Opera House)

Cuisine: Mexican

Music Events

State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of Armenia Address: 54 Tumanyan Str. Tel: +37410 533391

Mezzo Classic House Club Website: http://www.mezzo.am/ Address: 1/3 28 Isahakyan Str. Te: +374 98 206 206, +374 10 52 42 11

Yans Music Hall Website: http://yansclub.com/en/ Address: 76, Teryan Street, Tel.: +37410 70-00-00, +37410 70-00-01

Malkhas Jazz Club Address: 52/1 Pushkin St For more information about music events and festivals Tel: +374 10 535350 please, visit http://www.myyerevan.am/en/events/concerts/ “Poplavok” Jazz Café Address: 41 Isahakyan Str. Tel: + 374 10 522303 3

TWINNING PROJECT Strengthening the Public Internal Financial Control in the Republic of Armenia

Museums and City Sights 3. Modern Art Museum 1. National Art Gallery Website: http://mamy.am Website: http://www.gallery.am/en/ Address: Address: 7, Mashtots ave., Address: 1 Arami Street (Entrance from Republic Square), Tel: (374 10) 539637 Yerevan Tel. (+37410) 567472 4. Website: http://yhm.am/en/ 2. ( Manuscripts Museum) Address: 1/1 Argishti Str.Yerevan Website: http://www.matenadaran.am Tel: (010) 568109 Address: 53 Mashtots Avenue, Yerevan Tel: (010) 562578 5. Armenian Genocide Museum Website: http://www.genocide -museum.am/eng Address: memorial complex Tel.: (+374 10) 39 09 81

SIGHTSEEING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

1. Mother See of Holly Echmiadzin -the center of the Armenian Church., where the Catholicos Of All Armenians lives (21 km from Yerevan)

2. – a pagan temple Kotayk Province of Armenia (27 km from Yerevan)

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TWINNING PROJECT Strengthening the Public Internal Financial Control in the Republic of Armenia

3. Geghard- the monastery with a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs (37km from Yerevan)

4. Lake Sevan - the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region, one of the largest fresh-water high-altitude lakes in the world (63 km from Yerevan)

5. Khor Virap - an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in the Ararat valley facing the biblical mountain Ararat, near the border with Turkey (43 km from Yerevan)

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TWINNING PROJECT Strengthening the Public Internal Financial Control in the Republic of Armenia

6. Noravank- a 13th-century Armenian monastery, located in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu river (122km from Yerevan)

7. monastery - a 9th-century monastery located on a large basalt plateau near the Tatev village in south- east of Armenia. “Wings of Tatev” is a 5.7 km cableway that will take you straight to the . It is the longest reversible aerial tramway holding the record for longest non-stop double track cable car.(252km from Yerevan)

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TWINNING PROJECT Strengthening the Public Internal Financial Control in the Republic of Armenia

OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS IN ARMENIA

December 31- January 8 New Year and Christmas holidays January 28 Armenian Army Day March 8 International Women's Day April 24 Genocide Commemoration Day May 1 Labour Day May 9 Victory Day May 28 First Republic Day July 5 Constitution Day September 21 Independence Day

There are also annually shifting religious holidays.

USEFUL CONTACTS

TWINNING STAFF

1. Anders Jansson EMERGENCY AND INFORMATION SERVICES Twinning RTA Police 102 E-mail: [email protected] Fire 101 Mob: +37493 977611 First Aid/Ambulance 103 Rescue service 118

‘Zvartnots’ Airport 187 2. Ms. Arminei Grigoryan Twinning Assistant E-mail: [email protected] HEALTH AND MEDICAL CENTERS Mob: +37498 081416 Armenia Republican Medical Centre (10) 31 81 02 Ms. Shogher Mkrtchyan “Diagnostica” Medical Corporation (10) 31 90 26 Twinning Assistant “Erebouni” Medical Center (10) 47 11 02 E-mail: [email protected] “Nairi” Medical Centre (10) 53 75 00 “Klanse” Dental-Medical Center (10) 64 47 99 Mob: +37498 410944

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