Strasbourg, 3 September 2003 MIN-LANG/PR (2003) 7 Initial Periodical Report Presented to the Secretary General of the Council Of
Strasbourg, 3 September 2003 MIN-LANG/PR (2003) 7 EUROPEAN CHARTER FOR REGIONAL OR MINORITY LANGUAGES Initial Periodical Report presented to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in accordance with Article 15 of the Charter ARMENIA The First Report of the Republic of Armenia According to Paragraph 1 of Article 15 of European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages June 2003, Yerevan 2 INTRODUCTION The Republic of Armenia signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages on May 11, 2001. In respect of Armenia the Charter has come into force since May 1, 2002. The RA introduces the following report according to Paragraph 1 of Article 15 of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This report has been elaborated and developed by the State Language Board at the Ministry of Education and Science based on the information submitted by the relevant ministries NGOs and administrative offices, taking into consideration the remarks and suggestions made by them and all parties interested, while discussing the following report. PART I Historical Outline Being one of the oldest countries in the world, for the first time in its new history Armenia regained its independence on May 28, 1918. The first Republic existed till November 29, 1920, when Armenia after forced sovetalization joined the Soviet Union, becoming on of the 15 republics. As a result of referendum the Republic of Armenia revived its independence on September 21, 1991. Armenia covers an area of 29,8 thousand km2, the population is nearly 32000001. Armenia borders on Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
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