ARMENIA

Compiled from the April 2005 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Republic of Armenia

PROFILE

Geography

Area:

29,800 sq. km. (11,500 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Maryland.

Cities:

Capital—Yerevan.

Terrain:

High plateau with mountains, little forest land.

Climate:

Highland continental, hot summers, cold winters.

People

Nationality:

Noun—Armenian(s). Adjective—Armenian.

Population (official est.):

3,213,011 de jure (3,002,594 de facto). These figures represent the final results of the October 2001 census, as announced in January 2003.

Ethnic groups:

Armenian 98%; Yezidi 1.2%; Russian, Greek, and other 0.8%.

Religion:

Armenian Apostolic Church (more than 90% nominally affiliated).

Language:

Armenian (96%), Russian, other.

Education:

Literacy—99%.

Health:

Infant mortality rate—20/1,000. Life expectancy—66.6 years.

Work force (1.24 million—10.5% unemployed):

Industry and construction—24.5%; agriculture and forestry—24.6%; trade—17.3%; education—13.4%; other—22.2%.

Government

Type:

Republic.

Constitution:

Approved in 1995 referendum.

Independence:

1918 (First Armenian Republic); 1991 (from Soviet Union).

Branches:

Executive—president (head of state) with wider powers relative to other branches, prime minister (head of cabinet), Council of Ministers (cabinet). Legislative—unicameral National Assembly (parliament). Judicial—Constitutional Court.

Administrative subdivisions:

10 marzes (provinces) in addition to the city of Yerevan, which has the status of a province.

Political parties represented in the National Assembly:

Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun, Country of Law (Orinats Yerkir), People's Party of Armenia, National Accord Party, Republic Party, and United Labor Party. Other significant parties include: National Democratic Union, Constitutional Rights Union, Social Democratic Hnchakian Party, Armenian National Movement, Liberal Democratic Ramkavar Party, Self Determination Union, Communist Party, and the Christian Democratic Party. In addition, there are 36 other registered parties, many of which become active only during national campaigns.

Suffrage:

Universal at 18.

Economy (2003)

GDP:

$2.8 billion.

GDP Growth rate:

13.9%.

Per capita GDP:

$880.

Inflation:

8.6%.

Natural resources:

Copper, zinc, gold, and lead; hydroelectric power; small amounts of gas and petroleum.

Agriculture:

Products—fruits and vegetables, wines, dairy, some livestock.

Industry:

Types—chemicals, electronic products, machinery, processed food, synthetic rubber, and textiles.

Trade:

Exports—$678.1 million (f.o.b., 81.3% to countries outside CIS): diamonds, scrap metal, machinery and equipment, brandy, copper ore. Export partners—Belgium 18.3%, Israel 21%, Russia 13.9%, U.S. 8.3%, Iran 3.3%. Imports—$1.269 billion (f.o.b., 73.6% from countries outside the CIS): natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, and diamonds. Import partners—Russia 16.4%, Belgium 10.2%, Israel 9.7%, Iran 5.3%, U.S. 8.0%.

PEOPLE AND HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Ethnic groups in Armenia include Armenians (95%), Kurds, Russians, Greeks, and others. More than 90% of the population is nominally affiliated with the Armenian Apostolic Church. Languages are Armenian (96%), Russian, and others.

Armenia first emerged into history around 800 BC as part of the Kingdom of Urartu or Van, which flourished in the Caucasus and eastern Asia Minor until 600 BC. After the destruction of the Seleucid Empire, the first Armenian state was founded in 190 BC. At its zenith, from 95 to 65 BC, Armenia extended its rule over the entire Caucasus and the area that is now eastern Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. For a time, Armenia was the strongest state in the Roman East. It became part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC and adopted a Western political, philosophical, and religious orientation.

In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, establishing a church that still exists independently of both the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches. During its later political eclipses, Armenia depended on the church to preserve and protect its unique identity. From around 1100 to 1350, the focus of Armenian nationalism moved south, as the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, which had close ties to European Crusader states, flourished in southeastern Asia Minor until conquered by Muslim states.

Between the 4th and 19th centuries, Armenia was conquered and ruled by, among others, Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, and Turks. For a brief period from 1918 to 1920, it was an independent republic. In late 1920, the communists came to power following an invasion of Armenia by the Red Army, and in 1922, Armenia became part of the Trans-Caucasian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1936, it became the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. Armenia declared its independence from the Soviet Union on September 21, 1991.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Armenians voted overwhelmingly for independence in a September 1991 referendum, followed by a presidential election in October 1991 that gave 83% of the vote to Levon Ter-Petrossian. Ter-Petrossian had been elected head of government in 1990, when the Armenian National Movement defeated the Communist Party. Ter-Petrossian was re-elected in 1996. Following public demonstrations against Ter-Petrossian's policies on Nagorno-Karabakh, the President resigned in January 1998 and was replaced by Prime Minister Robert Kocharian, who was elected President in March 1998. Following the October 27, 1999 assassination in Parliament of Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian, Parliament Speaker Karen Demirchian, and six other officials, a period of political instability ensued during which an opposition headed by elements of the former Armenian National Movement government attempted unsuccessfully to force Kocharian to resign. Kocharian was successful in riding out the unrest. Kocharian was reelected in March 2003 in a contentious election that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the U.S. Government deemed to fall short of international standards.

As a result of the May 2003 parliamentary elections, 95 seats of the 131 in the National Assembly (75 elected on a proportional basis and 56 on a district-by-district majoritarian basis) went to generally pro-government parties or deputies. This loose governing coalition consists of deputies from the Republican, Orinats Yerkir, and the ARF Dashnaksutyun parties plus several unaffiliated deputies who vote with the government bloc. These three parties also formed the coalition cabinet. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Artur Baghdassaryan, also serves as chairman of the Orinats Yerkir Party. Opposition parties secured 26 seats during the 2003 election. There are philosophical tensions within the opposition but these parties tend to vote together on key legislative issues. The opposition includes both the Justice Bloc (organized by the People's Party of Armenia Chairman Stepan Demirchian) and the rival National Accord Party (headed by Artashes Geghamian).

The Government of Armenia's stated aim is to build a Western-style parliamentary democracy as the basis of its form of government. However, international observers have questioned the inherent fairness of parliamentary and presidential elections and constitutional referenda during each of the previous nationwide elections (1995, 1999, and 2003), citing polling deficiencies, lack of cooperation by the electoral commission, poor maintenance of electoral lists, and access to polling places. The new constitution of 1995 greatly expanded the powers of the executive branch and gives it much more influence over the judiciary and municipal officials.

The Government's human rights record remained poor in 2003; although there were some improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained. International observers found both the presidential and parliamentary elections during the year to be well below international standards, with serious irregularities, and some opposition supporters were detained between the two rounds of the presidential elections under provisions of the Soviet-era Administrative Code. Security forces beat pretrial detain-ees. Impunity remained a problem. There were reports of arbitrary arrest and detention. Lengthy pretrial detention remained a problem. There were some limits on press freedom, due in part to self-censorship and denial of two television broadcast licenses. There were some limits on the rights of assembly and association. In February and March 2003, authorities denied permission for several opposition rallies and subsequently detained approximately 200 people for participating in unauthorized demonstrations. The law places some restrictions on religious freedom. Societal violence against women was a problem. Trafficking of women and children was a problem, which the government took some steps to address.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 5/24/2005

President: Robert KOCHARIAN
Prime Minister: Andranik MARGARYAN
Min. Chief of Staff of the Cabinet: Manuk TOPUZYAN
Min. of Agriculture: Davit LOKYAN
Min. of Culture & Youth: Hovik HOVEYAN
Min. of Defense: Serzh SARGSYAN
Min. of Education & Science: Sergo YERITSYAN
Min. of Energy: Armen MOVSISYAN
Min. of Environmental Protection: Vardan AYVAZYAN
Min. of Finance: Vardan KHACHATRYAN
Min. of Foreign Affairs: Vartan OSKANIAN
Min. of Health: Norayr DAVIDYAN
Min. of Justice: David HARUTYUNYAN
Min. of Labor & Social Issues: Aghvan VARDANYAN
Min. of Territorial Administration: Hovik ABRAHAMYAN
Min. of Trade & Economic Development: Karen TCHSHMARITYAN
Min. of Transport & Communication: Andranik MANUKYAN
Min. of Urban Planning: Aram HARUTYUNYAN
Chmn., National Bank: Tigran SARGSYAN
Ambassador to the US: Tatoul MARKARIAN
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Armen MARTIROSYAN

Armenia's embassy in the U.S. is at 2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008; tel: 202-319-1976 or 202-319-2983; fax: 202-319-2984.

ECONOMY

Armenia is the second most densely populated of the former Soviet republics. It is a landlocked country between the Black and the Caspian Seas, bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey. Up until independence, Armenia's economy was based largely on industry—chemicals, electronic products, machinery, processed food, synthetic rubber, and textiles—and highly dependent on outside resources. Agriculture accounted for only 20% of net material product and 10% of employment before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Armenian mines produce copper, zinc, gold, and lead. The vast majority of energy is produced with imported fuel, including gas and nuclear fuel (for its one nuclear power plant) from Russia; the main domestic energy source is hydroelectric. Small amounts of coal, gas, and petroleum have not yet been developed.

Like other New 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 earthquake, which killed more than 25,000 people and made 500,000 homeless, are still being felt. Although a cease-fire has held since 1994, the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has not been resolved. The consequent closure of both the Azerbaijani and Turkish borders has devastated the economy, because of Armenia's dependence on outside supplies of energy and most raw materials. Land routes through Azerbaijan and Turkey are closed; routes through Georgia and Iran are inadequate or unreliable. In 1992-93, GDP fell nearly 60% from its 1989 level. The national currency, the dram, suffered hyperinflation for the first few years after its introduction in 1993.

Nevertheless, the Government of Armenia, helped by the cease-fire that has been in effect in Nagorno-Karabakh since 1994, has been able to carry out wide-ranging economic reforms that paid off in dramatically lower inflation and steady growth. Armenia has registered 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 jewelry making, information and communication technology, and even tourism are beginning to supplement more traditional sectors such as agriculture in the economy.

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), as well as other international financial institutions (IFIs) and foreign countries are extending considerable grants and loans. Total loans extended to Armenia since 1993 exceed $1.1 billion. These loans are targeted at reducing the budget deficit, stabilizing the local currency; developing private businesses; energy; the agriculture, food processing, transportation, and health and education sectors; and ongoing rehabilitation work in the earthquake zone.

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. A liberal foreign investment law was approved in June 1994, and a Law on Privatization was adopted in 1997, as well as a program on state property privatization. The government joined the World Trade Organization on February 5, 2003.

Environmental Issues

Armenia is trying to address its environmental problems. It has established a Ministry of Nature Protection and has introduced a pollution fee system by which taxes are levied on air and water emissions and solid waste disposal, with the resulting revenues used for environmental protection activities. Armenia is interested in cooperating with other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS—a group of 12 former Soviet republics) and with members of the international community on environmental issues. The Armenian Government is working toward closing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant as soon as alternate energy sources can be identified.

DEFENSE AND MILITARY ISSUES

Armenia established a Ministry of Defense in 1992. Border guards subject to the National Security Service patrol Armenia's borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan, while Russian Border Guards continue to monitor its borders with Iran and Turkey.

The Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty was ratified by the Armenian parliament in July 1992. The treaty establishes comprehensive limits on key categories of military equipment, such as tanks, artillery, armored combat vehicles, combat aircraft, and combat helicopters, and provides for the destruction of weaponry in excess of those limits. Armenian officials have consistently expressed determination to comply with its provisions. Armenia has provided data on armaments as required under the CFE Treaty. There are indications that Armenia is trying to establish mechanisms to ensure fulfillment of its arms control obligations. Armenia is not a significant exporter of conventional weapons, but it has provided substantial support, including materiel, to separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh.

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 as a non-nuclear weapons state in July 1993. The U.S. and other Western governments have discussed efforts to establish effective nuclear export control systems with Armenia.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Armenia is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Commonwealth of Independent States, NATO's Partnership for Peace, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Trade Organization.

Nagorno-Karabakh

In 1988, the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan, voted to secede and join Armenia. This eventually developed into a full-scale armed conflict. Armenian support for the separatists led to an economic embargo by Azerbaijan, which has had a negative impact on Armenia's foreign trade and made imports of food and fuel more expensive, three-quarters of which transited Azerbaijan under Soviet rule.

Peace talks in early 1993 were disrupted by the seizure of Azerbaijan's Kelbajar district by Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian forces and the forced evacuation of thousands of ethnic Azeris. Turkey in protest then followed with an embargo of its own against Armenia. A cease-fire was declared between Azeri and Armenian/Nagorno-Karabakh forces in 1994 and has been maintained by both sides since then in spite of occasional shooting along the line of contact between the two. All Armenian governments have thus far resisted domestic pressure to recognize the self-proclaimed independence of the "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic," while at the same time announcing they would not accept any peace accords that returned the enclave to Azerbaijani rule. Some 750,000 ethnic Azeris who fled during the Karabakhi offensives still live as internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan, while roughly 400,000 ethnic Armenians who fled Azerbaijan since 1988 remain refugees, although around 35,000 have accepted Armenian citizenship since 1998.

Negotiations to peacefully resolve the conflict have been ongoing since 1992 under the aegis of the Minsk Group of the OSCE. The Minsk Group is currently co-chaired by the U.S., France, and Russia. The talks have focused on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the return of refugees, the lifting of blockades, the withdrawal from occupied territories, and the status of the Lachin corridor, which connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

According to Armenia's Office of the Geographer, Karabakhi Armenians, supported by the Republic of Armenia, now hold about 11% of Azerbaijan and have refused to withdraw from occupied territories until an agreement on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is reached. Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to observe the cease-fire that has been in effect since May 1994, and in late 1995 both also agreed to OSCE field representatives being based in Tbilisi, Georgia, to monitor the cease-fire and facilitate the peace process.

U.S.-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991 brought an end to the Cold War and created the opportunity to build bilateral relations with the New Independent States (NIS) as they began a political and economic transformation. The U.S. recognized the independence of Armenia on December 25, 1991, and opened an Embassy in Yerevan in February 1992.

The United States has made a concerted effort to help Armenia and the other NIS during their difficult transition from totalitarianism and a command economy to democracy and open markets. The cornerstone of this continuing partnership has been the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets (FREEDOM) Support Act, enacted in October 1992. Under this and other programs, the U.S. to date has provided nearly $1.5 billion in humanitarian and technical assistance for Armenia. U.S. assistance programs in Armenia are described in depth on Embassy Yerevan's web-site at: www.usa.am/assistance/.

In addition, the U.S. has played a leading role in the Minsk Group, which was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe—now the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)—to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. That conflict has cost several thousand lives, created nearly one million refugees and displaced persons, and caused economic hardships for Armenia.

U.S.-Armenian Economic Relations

In 1992 Armenia signed three agreements with the U.S. affecting trade between the two countries. The agreements were ratified by the Armenian parliament in September 1995 and entered into force in the beginning of 1996. They include an "Agreement on Trade Relations," an "Investment Incentive Agreement," and a treaty on the "Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investment" (generally referred to as the Bilateral Investment Treaty, or BIT). Armenia does not have a bilateral taxation treaty with the U.S. The 1994 Law on Foreign Investment governs all direct investments in Armenia, including those from the U.S.

Approximately 70 U.S.-owned firms currently do business in Armenia, including such multinationals as Procter & Gamble, M&M-Mars, Xerox, Dell, and IBM. Recent major U.S. investment projects include the Hotel Armenia; the Hotel Ani Plaza; Tufenkian Holdings (carpet and furnishing production, hotels, and construction); several subsidiaries of U.S.-based information technology firms, including Viasphere Techno-park, an IT incubator; a Greek-owned Coca-Cola bottling plant; petroleum exploration by the American-Armenian Exploration Company; jewelry and textile production facilities; a large perlite mining and processing plant; and Jermuk Mother Plant, which produces one of the more popular brands of mineral water in Armenia.

U.S. Support To Build A Market Economy

The U.S. continues to work closely with international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to help Armenia in its transition to a free-market economy. Armenia has embarked upon an ambitious reform program, which has allowed a gradual transition from humanitarian aid toward more developmental assistance. U.S. economic assistance programs, primarily under the administration of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), have three objectives: to help create a legal, regulatory, and policy framework for competition and economic growth in energy, agriculture, housing, and other sectors; to promote fiscal reform; and to develop a competitive and efficient private financial sector. Other agencies, including the Departments of State, Agriculture, Treasury, Defense, Commerce, and the Peace Corps sponsor various assistance projects. The U.S.-Armenia Task Force, established in 2000, is a bilateral commission that meets every 6 months to review the progress and objectives of U.S. assistance to Armenia.

Specific USAID programs focus on the development of a private sector and small and medium-size enterprises, including micro credit programs; energy sector reform, focusing on efficient management of Armenia's physical resources; democracy and good governance programs, including the promotion of a well-informed and active civil society; social sector reform, including benefits administration for vulnerable populations and targeted vocational training; health sector reform, including improvement of management and delivery of primary health-care services with an emphasis on preventive medicine; and earthquake zone assistance, which provides housing and economic reactivation for victims of the 1988 earthquake. Under this program, more than 4,000 families who lost their homes have participated in a housing certificate program allowing them to secure permanent and adequate housing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Marketing Assistance Project (MAP) provides advisory services and support to private farmers in all Armenian provinces, facilitates the formation of farmer associations and marketing initiatives, provides micro-credits for agricultural producers, and has laid the groundwork for several agribusiness associations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Cochran Fellowship Program provides training to Armenian agriculturists. USDA and USAID also have launched efforts to revive production and export of Armenian vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural products.

U.S. Humanitarian Assistance

Over the past decade the U.S. has provided over $1.4 billion in assistance to Armenia, the highest per capita amount in the NIS. Humanitarian aid originally accounted for up to 85% of this total, reflecting the economic effects caused by closed borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, destruction in northern Armenia left from the devastating 1988 earthquake, and the virtual paralysis of most of the country's factories.

As conditions in Armenia have improved, with the stabilization of the economy and increased energy production—including the restarting of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant at Metsamor—U.S. assistance programs have moved away from humanitarian goals to longer-term development ones.

U.S. Support To Achieve Democracy

Technical assistance and training programs have been provided in municipal administration, intergovernmental relations, public affairs, foreign policy, diplomatic training, rule of law, and development of a constitution. Specific programs are targeted at promoting elections that meet international standards, strengthening political parties, and promoting the establishment of an independent judiciary and independent media. This includes financing for programs that support civil society organizations, local non-govern-mental organizations (NGO) capacity building, National Assembly professional development, and local and community-level governance.

State Department and USAID educational exchange programs play an important role in supporting democratic and free-market reforms. Assistance in the translation and publication of printed information also has been provided. Exchange programs in the U.S. for Armenian lawyers, judges, political party members, business people, government officials, NGO activists, journalists, and other public figures focus on a range of topics, including the American judicial and political system, privatization, specific business sectors, the media, and civil society. The State Department has funded an ongoing project to provide Internet connectivity to schools at various levels throughout the country; these centers provide both educational and community-building opportunities.

USAID has funded international and domestic groups to monitor national elections. USAID also has funded programs to educate voters and to strengthen the role of an array of civic organizations in the democratic process.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet

July 26, 2005

Country Description:

Armenia is a constitutional republic with a developing economy. Tourist facilities, especially outside Yerevan, the capital, are not highly developed, and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries may be difficult to obtain.

Entry/Exit Requirements:

A passport and visa are required. For stays longer than 21 days, but not exceeding 90 days, an official invitation from a qualifying entity in Armenia is required. Visas may also be purchased upon arrival at the airport in Yerevan. For further information on entry requirements, contact the Armenian Embassy at 2225 R St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 319-1976 and (202) 319-2983; the Armenian Consulate General in Los Angeles at 50 N. La Cienega Blvd., Suite 210, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, tel. (310) 657-6102, or visit the Embassy of Armenia's website at http://www.armeniaemb.org for the most current visa information.

Safety and Security:

A cease-fire has been in effect since 1994 around the self-proclaimed "Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh," a breakaway autonomous republic of Azerbaijan. However, reports of intermittent armed clashes along the cease-fire line and along the border with Azerbaijan continue. Because of the existing state of hostilities, consular services are not available to Americans in Nagorno-Karabakh. Travelers should exercise caution near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and consult the Consular Information Sheet for Azerbaijan if considering travel to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian territory. Armenia's land borders with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan remain closed and continue to be patrolled by armed troops who stop all persons attempting to cross. There are still land mines in numerous areas in and near the conflict zones.

Several political rallies occurred in Yerevan in the spring of 2004, sometimes impeding traffic on Bagrhramyan Street. Though the majority of these demonstrations were peaceful, in at least one instance protesters were forcibly removed from the scene by police. Americans should be mindful that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.

Armenia is an earthquake-prone and landslide-prone country. In addition to these natural disasters, the possibility of chlorine gas spills and radiation poisoning due to industrial accidents exists.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Crime:

Crimes against foreigners continue to be a concern in Armenia. Criminals can be armed with edged weapons and they may use force if resisted. Expatriates have been the victims of violent assault, robbery, burglary, break-ins, thefts from vehicles and residences, and pick-pocketing. American citizens are urged to avoid traveling alone after dark in Yerevan. While the incidence of violent crime remains lower than in most U.S. cities, an American citizen was murdered in Yerevan in May 2004; the crime remains unsolved. Several American investors have also reported being the victims of financial scams in business transactions.

Information for Victims of Crime:

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while over-seas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Medical Facilities and Health Information:

Though there are many competent physicians in Armenia, medical care facilities are limited, especially outside the major cities. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of English-speaking physicians in the area. Most prescription medications are available, but the quality varies. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web-site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance:

The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions:

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Armenia is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Travel in Armenia requires caution. Public transportation, while very inexpensive, may be unreliable and uncomfortable. Travel at night is not recommended, and winter travel can be extremely hazardous in mountain areas and higher elevations.

Travelers should avoid the old highway between the towns of Ijevan and Noyemberyan in the Tavush region. It was shelled in part of the continuing border hostilities with neighboring Azerbaijan in 2004, and an Armenian national was shot and killed earlier this spring while traveling the same road.

On weekends, there is an increased number of intoxicated drivers on Armenian roads. American citizens are urged to exercise particular vigilance while traveling on the main highway from Yerevan to the resort area of Tsaghadzor and Sevan. Traffic police will attempt to stop individuals driving erratically and dangerously, but police presence out-side of Yerevan is limited.

Armenia does have emergency police and medical services, but they may take time to reach remote regions.

With the exception of a few major arteries, primary roads are frequently in poor repair, with sporadic stretches of missing pavement and large potholes. Some roads shown as primary roads on maps are unpaved and can narrow to one lane in width, while some newer road connections have not yet been marked on recently produced maps.

Secondary roads are normally in poor condition and are often unpaved and washed out in places. Street and road signs are poor to nonexistent. Truck traffic is not heavy except on the main roads linking Yerevan to the Iranian and Georgian borders.

Minibuses are considered more dangerous than other forms of public transportation. Travelers who choose to ride minibuses should exercise caution because these vehicles are often poorly maintained, commonly lack safety measures including seat-belts, and are frequently involved in accidents.

Though crime along roadways is rare, the police themselves often seek bribes at periodic checkpoints on main routes. Drivers in Armenia frequently ignore traffic laws, making roadways unsafe for unsuspecting travelers.

Pedestrians often fail to take safety precautions and those driving in towns at night should be especially cautious. In cities, a pedestrian dressed in black crossing an unlit street in the middle of the block is a common occurrence.

The quality of gasoline in Armenia ranges from good at some of the more reliable stations in cities to very poor. The gasoline and other fuels sold out of jars, barrels, and trucks by independent roadside merchants should be considered very unreliable.

Aviation Safety Oversight:

As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Armenia, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Armenia's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's internet web site at www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm.

Travelers on airlines among the countries of the Caucasus may experience prolonged delays, sudden cancellation of flights, and flights departing earlier than scheduled. In addition to frequent delays, flights are sometimes overcrowded with passengers without seats standing in the aisle along with excess unsecured cabin luggage. Even basic safety features such as seat belts are sometimes missing. Service is available through Frankfurt, Moscow, and Paris via Armavia International Airways. Aeroflot Russian Airlines also has daily flights to Yerevan from Moscow. Air travel to Armenia on international carriers via the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria is more reliable.

Special Circumstances:

Armenia remains largely a cash-only economy. Credit cards are accepted at some businesses, at major hotels and restaurants in Yerevan, but rarely out-side of the capital. Limited facilities exist for cashing traveler's checks and wiring money into the country. There are a number of ATMs in the center of Yerevan. Dollars are readily exchanged at market rates. Travelers occasionally experience problems with local officials seeking bribes to perform basic duties.

Armenian customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Armenia of items such as firearms, pornographic materials, medication, and communications equipment. For export of antiquities and other items that could have historical value, such as paintings, carpets, old books or other artisan goods, a special authorization is required in advance from the Armenian Ministry of Culture. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Armenia in Washington, D.C. or Consulate in Los Angeles for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Criminal Penalties:

While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offences. Persons violating Armenian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Armenia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children's Issues:

For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.

Registration/Embassy Location:

Americans living or traveling in Armenia are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Armenia. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan is located at 1 American Avenue, tel. 011 (37410) 46-47-00 and fax: 011 (37410) 46-47-42. The Consular Section is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., with time reserved for American citizen services from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, see the Embassy's website at http://www.usa.am.

International Adoption

February 2006

The information below has been edited from the report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Child Abduction section of this book and review current reports online at travel.state.gov

Disclaimer:

The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

Please Note:

Immigrant visas for adopted Armenian orphans by U.S. citizens are issued at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. For specifics about adoption related immigrant visa procedures, please visit the U.S. Embassy's web site at georgia.usembassy.gov/visas adopt.html.

Patterns of Immigration of Adopted Orphans to the U.S.:

Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans
FY-2003: 43
FY-2002: 43
FY-2001: 27
FY-2000: 12
FY-1999: N/A

Adoption Authority in Armenia:

Prime Minister's Office; Social Security Ministry, Tel. (3741) 56-53-83, or 52-68-31.

Eligibility Requirements for Adoptive Parents:

Married couples and single women are eligible to apply. The Armenian ethnicity of the adoptive parents or their strong ties with the Armenian community is not a requirement but is often helpful in gaining permission from the Armenian government to adopt.

Residency Requirements:

There are no residency requirements that prospective adoptive parents must fulfill to complete an adoption in Armenia.

Time Frame:

The most time consuming part adopting is gathering the appropriate documents and getting approval from a variety of Armenian authorities. Once a child is identified, it usually takes three to four months to complete the adoption.

Adoption Agencies and Attorneys:

There are currently no licensed adoption agencies in Armenia. The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan has a list of lawyers who may be able to help adopting parents in pursuing adoptions. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the Department of State assumes any responsibility for the quality of services provided by these lawyers.

Adoption Fees in Armenia:

Prospective adoptive parents can expect to pay approximately $45.00 in fees to Armenian governmental agencies. Attorneys assisting families to adopt may charge additional fees for services rendered.

Adoption Procedures in Armenia:

The documents listed below must be submitted to the Adoption Department of the Prime Minister's Office of Armenia. This office reviews adoption applications and approves prospective adoptive parents to adopt in Armenia. Once the general permission to adopt is obtained, the parents must register with the Ministry of Social Security data bank. The parents may then start looking for a child. The adoptive parents or their representative should contact orphanages in Yerevan or in other districts of Armenia to locate a child for adoption.

Once the child is identified for adoption, the parents must inform the Ministry of Social Security. The Ministry then transfers the case to the Adoption Department of the Prime Minister's office for final approval. A special working group comprised of deputy ministers of several ministries will review the case during one of their scheduled sessions, which take place every second week. After receiving a final approval from the Prime Minister's office, the case is then transferred to the District Municipal Office of the child's residence. The Municipality will provide the adoptive parents, or their legal representative, with all necessary documents in order to get the new birth certificate, adoption certificate and the Armenian passport.

An authorized representative of the adoptive parents can do all of the above steps. Authorization can be provided by a notarized power of attorney authorizing the representative to arrange the adoption. Prospective adoptive parents can expect travel to Armenia to sign adoption papers and attend the I-604 orphan investigation interview at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.

Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at travel.state.gov/family

Documents Required for Adoption in Armenia:

The application for adoption can be filed either in the United States or Armenia. To start an application in the United States the following documents should be presented for authentication to the Armenian Consulates in Washington, D.C., or Beverly Hills, California, by registered mail at the addresses listed in the "Embassy and Consulates in the United States" section.

The same documents should be presented to the Prime Minister's office if prospective adoptive parents decide to start the adoption in Armenia.

• Copy of the adoptive parents' birth certificates;
• Copy of the adoptive parents' US passports;
• Copy of the adoptive parents' marriage certificate where applicable. If applicant is divorced or widowed, please provide a copy of the divorce decree or spouse's death certificate;
• Family photos;
• Full medical evaluation report for adoptive parents from a U.S. doctor;
• Police report for adoptive parents;
• INS approval: Form I-171H;
• Tax returns for the last three years;
• Home Study; report conducted by licensed agent in U.S.;
• Home Study Agency or Social Worker's License;
• Letters of reference from three individuals in the U.S. who know the adoptive parents;
• Reference letter from pastor or community leader;
• Letter to Prime Minister of Republic of Armenia stating adoptive parents' intention to adopt a child from Armenia. The Armenian government wants to see that the prospective adoptive parents have some connection to Armenian culture. This can include an extended stay in the country or Armenian heritage on at least one side of the family.

The above documents must be submitted together as one package and legalized with an apostille (simplified certification stamp) by your state's Secretary of State. All documents must be translated into Eastern Armenian. Only the Consulates General of the Republic of Armenia are authorized to authenticate your application in the United States.

Authenticating U.S. Documents to be Used Abroad:

All U.S. documents submitted to the Armenian government/court must be authenticated. Visit the State Department website at travel.state.gov for additional information about authentication procedures.

Armenia Embassy and Consulate in the United States:

Embassy of the Republic of Armenia 2225 R Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 319-1976
Fax: (202) 319-2982
http://www.armeniaemb.org

Armenian Consulate General
1660 L. Street, NW, Suite 11
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 319-2983
Fax: (202) 319-8330
E-mail: [email protected]

Armenian Consulate General
50 North La Cienega Boulevard,
Suite 210>
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Tel: (310) 657-6102
Fax: (310) 657-419
E-mail: [email protected]

U.S. Immigration Requirements:

A child adopted by a U.S. citizen must obtain an immigrant visa before he or she can enter the U.S. Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at travel.state.gov/family

U.S. Embassy in Armenia:

Embassy of the United States of America
18 Baghramyan Ave.
Yerevan 375019, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: (+3741) 520-791, 521-611, 52-13-41
524-661, 527-001, 524-840 extension 4665
Fax:(+3741) 520-800
[email protected]

U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Georgia:

25 Atoneli St, Tiblisi, Georgia
+995-32-98-99-67/68 (switchboard).
Ext. 4500, consular section
Email: [email protected]
Internet:
http://web.sanet.ge/usembassy

Adoptive parents must contact the Immigrant Visa Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, to schedule a visa interview. Parents should not make final, nonrefundable travel plans for return to the United States until they have their child's immigrant visa in hand. Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at travel.state.gov/family

Additional Information:

Specific questions about adoption in Armenia may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Armenia. General questions regarding international adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-404-4747.