GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE REPUBLIC OF

GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

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The Capital -

The country is situated in southwestern part of Asia, occupies the North-East of Armenian plateau - between and Nearest Asia (the territory between the middle flows of the rivers Kur and Araks)

The country is located in the latitude of 380 501 - 410 181N. and longitude of 430 271 - 460 371E.

Area - 29743 km2

Agricultural lands comprise 46,8%. Maountains, plateuax and other lands - 34,9%, Forests - 12,7%, Water surface - 5,6%:

The permanent population as of 1 January 2001 is 3802,4 ths. people 1,

The population density per km2 is 127 people.

The state border

It borders Georgia to the North and East, Azerbaijan to the West and Turkey and Iran to the South respectively.

The longest extension from North-West to South-East comprises 360 km, from West to East - 200 km. The deepest landslide is the Debed Canyon - 390 m, The highest elevation is the peak of mount Aragats (4090 m), The high elevations:

Ü1Number of present population is significantly small. Reliable data on present population number are absent due to migration undercount. More reliable data reflecting one part of migration are available only by subtracting the indicators on departures and arrivals via air transport. According to the data on passenger transportation accounting implemented by the Main Department of Civil Aircraft during 1992-2000, the number of departures from the Republic exceeded the arrivals approximately by 644 ths. people. It should be noted that the information on passenger transportation via railway and road transport means (buses, mini buses and passenger cars) has been

also received since May-June 2000.

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Kaputdjugh - 3906 m, - 3598 m, Spitakasar - 3555 m, Vardenis - 3522 m.

The longest rivers

Araks – in the territory of Armenia -158 km (the total length - 1072 km), 186 km, Vorotan – in the territory of Armenia -119 km (the total length - 179 km), Debed - 152 km (the total length - 178 km), Hrazdan - 141 km, Aghstev - 99 km (the total length - 133 km).

Lakes

The largest lake is Sevan - 1260 km2 (the height above sea level - 1898 m), Arpi - 22.0 km2 (the height above sea level - 2025 m), Akna - 0.53 km2 (the height above sea level - 3030 m), Sev - 2.0 km2 (the height above sea level - 2666 m).

The average temperature (according to data of the Hydro-meteorological Department of RA) in January - 6.8 0 C (the lowest one was registered up to minus 300 C), in July - plus 20.8 0 C (the highest one was registered up to plus 430 C):

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THE LARGE CITIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA (As of January 1, 2001)

Number of permanent Distance to Yerevan, km.

population, ths. people Yerevan 1247.2 - 210.9 116 Vanadzor 171.6 120 Vagharshapat 65.7 21 Hrazdan 63.5 50 Abovyan 60.7 16 Kapan 46.6 316 Armavir 45.0 48 Charentsavan 36.2 38 Artashat 35.1 29 Alaverdi 24.6 50

THE STATE STRUCTURE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

The Republic of Armenia is an independent, democratic, public and rule of law state (Article 1, Chapter 1, RA Constitution). The declaration on state independence of the Republic of Armenia was adopted on 21 September 1991; on 21 December of the same year Armenia became a member of the CIS; on 2 March 1992 – a Member of United Nations; and on 25 January 2001 – a member of European Council. In the Republic of Armenia the power belongs to the people. The president of the Republic is guarantor for the country independence, territorial integrity and security. In the Republic of Armenia the executive power is implemented by the National Assembly. The people implement its power through free elections, referendums, as well as state and local self-government bodies and officials (Article 2, Chapter 1, RA Constitution). The state power is implemented in compliance with the Constitution and laws based on the principle distinguishing the legislative, executive and judicial powers (Article 5, Chapter 1, RA Constitution): The state language is Armenian, which is one of the Indo-European languages, the national currency is dram, which has been circulated since November 1993.

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NUMBER OF DEPUTIES OF THE NATIONAL ASSAMBLY OF RA BY GROUPINGS AND DEPUTY GROUPS (as of 1 January 2001, actual)

Number in percents Woma Men Woma Man n n “Unity” Alliance 2 47 4 96 “Communist Party of Armenia” - 8 0 100 “Armenian Revolutionary Federati (Dashnak Party) 1 8 11 89 “Right and Unity Union” - 7 0 100 “National Democratic Union” - 6 0 100 “Land of Law” Party - 6 0 100 “Stability” - 12 0 100 “Armenia” - 12 0 100 Deputies not included in the groupings and groups 1 21 5 95 Total 4 127 3 97

Source: Staff of the National Assembly of RA

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Holidays and remembrance days celebrating in the Republic of Armenia established by the RA Law “ On holidays and remembrance days in the Republic of Armenia”

1 New year December 31, Not working day January 1,2 2 Christmas January 6 Not working day 3 International Women’s Day March 8 Not working day 4 Motherhood and Beauty April 7 Not working day Holiday 5 Remembrance Genocide April 24 Not working day Victims’ Day 6 International Worker’s May 1 Not working day Solidarity Day 7 Victory and Peace Day May 9 Not working day 8 First Republic Holiday May 28 Not working day 9 Constitution Day July 5 Not working day 10 Independence Day September 21 Not working day 11 Remembrance Earthquake December 7 Not working day Victims’ Day

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ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL DIVISION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

SHIRAK LORI Tavush

Vanadzor

Gyumri

Aragatsotn Kotayk SEVAN LAKE YEREVAN ARMAVIR Gegharkunik ARARAT

VAYOTS DZOR

SYUNIK

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ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL DIVISION BY MARZES

(As of January 1, 2001)

Number of communities Total Urban District Rural

Republic of Armenia 930 47 12 871 Yerevan 12 - 12 - Aragatsotn 114 3 - 111 Ararat 97 4 - 93 Armavir 97 3 - 94 Gegharkunik 92 5 - 87 Lori 113 8 - 105 Kotayk 67 7 - 60 Shirak 119 3 - 116 Syunik 113 7 - 106 Vayots Dzor 44 3 - 41 Tavush 62 4 - 58

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TERRITOTY AND POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA BY ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS

Marzes Territory, Number of permanent population sq. km. (As of January 1, 2001), ths. people1 total urban rural

Republic of Armenia 29743 3802,4 2532,3 1270,1 Yerevan 227 1247,2 1247,2 - Aragatsotn 2753 167,8 47,1 120,7 Ararat 2096 311,2 98,9 212,3 Armavir 1242 322,9 123,1 199,8 Gegharkunik 5348* 278,6 102,1 176,5 Lori 3789 393,4 263,8 129,6 Kotayk 2089 329,0 200,6 128,4 Shirak 2681 362,1 243,0 119,1 Syunik 4506 164,1 115,2 48,9 Vayots Dzor 2308 69,4 28,5 40,9 Tavush 2704 156,7 62,8 93,9

*including Sevan Lake.

11See the footnote on the page 4.

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