Everything you need to know about Armenia: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Re-emergence of Armenia from its Genocidal Past
Armenia has one of the earliest Christian civilisations, the Armenian Church was founded by two of Jesus' twelve apostles Thaddaeus and Bartholomew who preached Christianity in Armenia between 40-60 AD. A former republic of the Soviet Union, Armenia is a unitary, multiparty, democratic nation-state having an ancient and historic cultural heritage. An independent Republic of Armenia was proclaimed at the end of the First World War but it was short-lived. During World War I in the western portion of Armania, Ottoman Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in the genocide of 1 million Armenians. When the Armenian Empire finally collapsed in 1991, Armenia regained independence but retained a Russian military base at Gyumri.
Armenia Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures
Geographical Information on Armenia :
Armenia is situated in the northeast of the Armenian uplands between the Caucasus and Asia Minor and bordered by Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the South and Turkey on the west. Lofty mountains, high plateaus, and several lowland valleys make up most of Armenia. Armenia is a country in west-central Asia. It's not a big country, but it has many interesting places. Armania has beautiful mountains, forests, and cities. Armenia's capital city, Yerevan, is one of the oldest cities in the world.
The climate in Armenia is markedly continental. Summers are dry and sunny, lasting from June to mid-September. Autumns are known for their vibrant and colorful foliage. Winters are quite cold with plenty of snow, with temperatures touching freezing point. The awe-inspiring Mt Ararat towering 5,165 metres is the tallest mountain bordering Armenia, Turkey and Iran.
Economy of Armenia:
In the mid-1990s the government initiated an economic reform program that brought some stability and growth. The country became a member of the Council of Europe in 2001. Armenia has cordial relations with many countries and currently Armenia is a member of more than 40 international organisations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, NATO's Partnership for Peace (PFP) program etc.
Culture, Cuisine and Tradition Of Armenia:
Armenia's culture has undergone considerable changes through centuries yet its core values are still retained in its large joint families. Armenian culture is a perfect amalgamation of the best achievements of the past with hopes of future. The culture of Armenia is distinctly different and yet strikingly similar to the neighboring nations of Georgia, Russia, and Iran as well as Mediterranean countries like Italy, and Greece.
The Armenians use fresh seasonal foods for their daily diet and they follow drying, smoking, and pickling methods to preserve food for winter. Armenians prefer rice, wheat, and pine nuts. Armenian cooking style has Persian (Iranian), Greek, and Turkish influences.
Tourist Attraction of Armenia:
Armenia sightseeing is full of fun, excitement and its cultural aspects provide a chance to discover it's past glory. Armenia boasts of several mediaeval churches like the Armenian Apostolic Chuch, the St Sarkis Church among others. The natural beauty of Armenia lies in volcanic peaks, hot springs, crystal lakes and man made attractions that remain the center of attraction for tourists. One of the must visit sites is the enchanting Lake Sevan in Armenia that is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world.
Major Sight-Seeing Places in Armenia include:
• Mithras Greek Temple of Garni, Armenia dates back to 1st Century AD, reconstructed in 1975.
• Countryside and Temple of Garni.
• Sevanavank Monastery.
• Central Square in Yerevan.
• Medieval Church in Armenia.
• Temple in Yalta.
Washington, June 15 (ANI): Astrophysicists have detected a star of low luminosity, which within a matter of moments gave off a flare so strong that it became almost 15 times brighter.
Copenhagen, June 12 (IANS) Armenia smashed Denmark 4-0 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in Parken, Denmark, crushing the hopes of the Danes to qualify for the finals.
I once plugged in an appliance and accidentally blacked out my whole school. I was an instant hero. I later told the head teacher that jumping around yelling "woohoo" was how we expressed deep sorrow where I come from, but he wasn't buying it. My achievement was eventually topped by a friend who dug a hole in his garden and short-circuited his entire street.
Copenhagen, June 6 (IANS) Denmark beat Georgia 2-1 in friendly warm-up match before the next round of FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Moscow, May 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Members of foreign delegations attending an international conference on European security visited a military base near Moscow that has a motorized infantry division.
Baku, May 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Azerbaijan will join neither NATO nor the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but is prepared to cooperate with both, a presidential aide said.
Lima (Peru), May 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Artem Okulov took gold in the 85 kg category at the junior weightlifting World Championship, bringing Russia's medal count to three.
London, Apr 20 (ANI): A bug that stoles cash by racking up charges from sending premium rate text messages has been found in Android Apps store.
Yerevan, April 17 (IANS) Armenia's World No.2 Levon Aronian and World Chess Champion Vishy Anand will take part in the Alexander Alekhine Memorial Tournament to be held jointly in Paris and St. Petersburg, Chess Federation of Armenia said Wednesday.
Moscow, April 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia could introduce tighter passport regulations for citizens of former Soviet states crossing Russia's borders this year, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.
Washington, Apr 10 (ANI): Libyan weapons are spreading at 'an alarming rate' to new territory in west Africa and the eastern Mediterranean including Syria and the Gaza Strip, a U.N. has panel said.
Yerevan, April 10 (IANS) Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan vowed to focus on the country's economic development, as he was sworn in for a second term here Tuesday.
Prague, March 19 (IANS) Striker Libor Kozak has been added to the Czech football team roster for the World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Armenia, said national team coach Michal Bilek.
Prague, March 13 (IANS) Czech Republic's national football team coach Michal Bilek named the roster for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers games, in which most of the experienced players such as goalkeeper Petr Cech and playmaker Tomas Rosicky are included.
Moscow, March 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, author of some of the world's heaviest riffs, has penned the music for Armenia's entry in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, organisers said.
Abu Dhabi, March 4 (IANS/WAM) The UAE has held talks with Northern Ireland and Armenia on strengthening trade and investment relations.
Tehran, Feb 21 (IANS) Russia claimed the Greco-Roman title at the Wrestling World Cup meet here, local media reported Thursday.
Yerevan, Feb 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Incumbent Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has won Armenia's presidential election with over 58 percent of the vote, according to official results announced by the country's Central Election Commission (CEC) Tuesday.
Kolkata, Feb 14 (IANS) With an aim to rapidly increase trade with Eurasia, negotiations have started between India and Eurasian countries for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), an official said Thursday.
Yangon, Feb 8 (IANS) Myanmar has established diplomatic ties with Armenia, official media reported Friday.
Yerevan, Feb 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan is recovering from surgery after he was shot in the shoulder in an apparent assassination attempt, media reports said Friday.
Yerevan, Feb 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Armenian presidential candidate Paruir Airikyan has been hospitalised with a gun wound in his shoulder after he was assaulted Thursday night, police said Friday.
Yerevan (Armenia), Feb 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Olympic boxing gold medallist Vladimir Yengibaryan has died in Los Angeles at the age of 80, the Armenian national Olympic committee said Friday.
Abu Dhabi, Jan 21 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Armenia have signed an agreement for technical and administrative cooperation in customs matters.
Guide (China), Jan 12 (IANS) The third International Extreme Race of Winter Swimming across Yellow River started here in northwest China's Qinghai Province Saturday.
London, Dec. 20 (ANI): The world's happiest people are in Latin America and those living in Singapore are the most unhappy, a poll has found.
Moscow, Dec 20 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed an action programme be worked out to minimise possible risks involved in the upcoming reduction of the international military presence in Afghanistan.
Moscow, Dec 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian police have uncovered the country's largest counterfeit currency network responsible for monthly producing over 40 million rubles ($1.3 million) of fake banknotes, including euros, the interior ministry said Tuesday.
Moscow, Dec 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Spartak Moscow are to send full-back Evgeny Makeev to Germany next week for tests on a knee injury.
Moscow, Dec 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Spartak Moscow have finally confirmed that they have a agreed a deal with FC Krasnodar for striker Yura Movsisyan.
Moscow, Dec 6 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to join Glonass, Russia's global positioning system.
Moscow, Dec 6 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose association of post-Soviet nations, have reaffirmed their resolve to intensify their joint counter-terrorism training programmes, the Russian presidential spokesman said.
Yerevan (Armenia), Dec 3 (IANS) Lalitha Polipalli Prasad (49kg) continued his winning streak at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships here Monday.
New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) It was an evening of soul-stirring music and poetry from the Land of the Rising Sun as two eminent Japanese artists performed at the historic Purana Qila here.
Yerevan (Armenia), Dec 1 (IANS) Indian boxer Lalitha Polipalli Prasad (49kg) continued his purple patch at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships here.
Moscow, Dec 1 (IANS/EFE) Russian soccer authorities say they want to revive the old Soviet league, an idea that has received support from leagues in former Soviet republics such as Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia.
Alisa, a 12?year?old girl from St. Petersburg, wants to be a military pilot. She even asks for career advice on websites for aerobatic teams, where no one has the heart to tell her that the Russian Air Force does not accept girls.
New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) "Legends of Kokuryo Rediscovered", a performance of music, ancient poetry and Shamanistic rites by piano therapist Idaki Shin and poet Keiko Koma from Japan, after touring 109 destinations across the world, will open to Indian audiences for the first time.
Abu Dhabi, Nov 20 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed an Air Services Agreement (ASA) with Armenia.
Moscow, Nov 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Krasnodar's Armenian-American striker Yura Movsisyan is set to miss his team's Russian Premier League football clash with Spartak slated for Sunday due to injury.
Moscow, Nov 3 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Ibrahima Balde struck from the edge of the box Saturday as FC Kuban beat Amkar Perm 3-0 away to go fourth in the Russian Premier League.
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) The man who gave us the sensitive "Masoom", the hilariously thrilling "Mr. India", the gripping "Bandit Queen" and the grand period drama "Elizabeth" has not lost any of his creative zeal. The latest topic to catch Shekhar Kapur's fancy is the Armenian genocide, and he knows it's going to be challenging.
Rome, Oct 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Domenico Criscito is glad to return to the Italian football squad and wants to represent his country at the 2014 World Cup.
Mumbai, Oct 15 (IANS) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur says he might be tempted to make a movie on the 1915 Armenian genocide.
Yerevan (Armenia), Oct 13 (IANS) Andrea Pirlo scored one goal and set up another as Italy laboured to a 3-1 win over Armenia in European zone football World Cup 2014 qualifying.
Tehran, Oct 6 (IANS) The Iranian oil ministry has played down the recent threat by the European Union (EU) to ban Iran's natural gas exports, Xinhua reported.
London, Oct. 5 (ANI): The US government-appointed body, which oversees the Voice of America and other US-sponsored broadcasts, has accused Iran of jamming radio and television programming in the Middle East and eastern Europe amid protests in Iran over the Iranian currency crisis.
Abu Dhabi, Oct 2 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Armenia have discussed bilateral relations and ways to further strengthen them in various fields.
Yerevan, Sep 26 (IANS) Armenia Wednesday confirmed reports that its national air carrier Armavia is for sale, according to Xinhua.
Yerevan, Sep 26 (IANS) The Middle Eastern nation of Armenia Wednesday confirmed reports that its national air carrier Armavia was for sale, according to Xinhua.
Moscow, Sep 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia's women defended their Chess Olympiad title in Istanbul over the weekend with a 4-0 thrashing of Kazakhstan edging them past China.
London, Aug 13 (IANS) The following is the final medal table at the 2012 London Olympic Games which concluded here Sunday. India finished 55th.
London, Aug 12 (IANS) The following is the medals tally of the 2012 London Games here Saturday.
London, Aug 11 (IANS) The following is the medals tally of the 2012 London Games here Saturday.
London, Aug 9 (IANS) The latest meda's tally of the 2012 London Olympics here Thursday.
Moscow, Aug 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian football side FC Kuban have signed Ajax midfielder Aras Ozbiliz on a four-year deal, the Russian Premier League side said Thursday.
London, Aug 9 (IANS) The following is the latest medal standings of the 2012 London Games here Thursday.
London, Aug 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Iran's Ghasem Gholamreza Rezaei grappled to Olympic wrestling gold in the men's 96kg division Tuesday, defeating Russia's Rustam Totrov on points in the final.
London, Aug 8 (IANS) The following is the latest medal standings of the 2012 London
London, Aug 6 (IANS) The following is the medal's tally Monday at the London Olympics:
London, Aug 6 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian wrestler Roman Vlasov ended his country's three-day wait for a gold medal with victory in the men's 74 kg Greco-Roman wrestling Sunday.
The second day in London for India was a mixed day as India's star boxer Vijendra Singh, Badminton star Parupalli Kashyap and able Tennis youngster Soumyajit Ghosh won their game while badminton star Jwala Gutta along with her partner Ashwani Ponappa lost their first double game. The poor performance of the archery team continues in the second day too................
Tianjin (China), July 15 (IANS) Chess is too "hard" to be taken as a career, says leading Armenian Grand Master (GM) Vladimir Akopian.
Moscow, May 31 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan Thursday signed a decree to dissolve government following the election of a new parliament. The dissolution followed the first session of the newly-elected parliament earlier in the day, Armenian media reported.
Athens, May 30 (IANS) Many players from the domestic league were called up as Greece announced the squad for the Euro 2012.
New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) A selection of antique carpets, rugs, kilims, runners, tapestries and fragments from the famous weaving regions around Central Asia - known for their ancient wool weaving traditions - will be auctioned in Bangalore June 11 by Indian auction house Bid & Hammer.
Beijing, May 25 (IANS) China's Olympic champion Chen Ying lifted the women's 25m pistol title in Munich's World Cup shooting event, the ISSF official website reported Friday.
Moscow, May 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Pakistan's Air Indus airline has shown interest in buying eight Sukhoi Superjet 100 airplanes, the Russian manufacturer said Wednesday.
Los Angeles, May 4 (IANS) Reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who was recently reported to be engaged to the rapper-turned-fashion designer Kanye West, is planning to adopt a baby from overseas.
Moscow, April 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The chief of Russian nuclear reactor design bureau Gidropress, a subsidiary of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, has been detained on suspicion of an 18-million-ruble ($600,000) fraud.
Washington, April 3 (ANI): UCLA scientists may have found answer to why some persons succumb to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while others who suffered the same ordeal do not.
Islamabad, Nov 20 (ANI): Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Behzad has said that the Islamic Republic will triple its electricity exports to Pakistan to help the Asian country ease its power shortages.
The 31st India International Trade Fair 2011 (IITF) opened today at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi....
Kuala Lumpur, Aug 3 (ANI): Asian men will have a tough time finding a wife by 2020 if the ongoing perception that a male is better than a female child continues.
London, May 30 (ANI): Attacking midfielder Andrey Arshavin has vowed to beat manager Arsene Wenger's axe and stay at Arsenal next season.
Tbilisi (Georgia), Apr. 11 (ANI): An elderly Georgian woman is facing charges that could lead to three years in prison for allegedly shutting off the internet service in her country and neighbouring Armenia while scavenging for copper cable.
Tokyo, Apr 3 (ANI): Over one in ten nuclear power plants worldwide are at risk from earthquakes or tsunamis similar to the natural disaster that crippled Japan's Fukushima reactors, warns a research.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (ANI): Indian and Chinese nationals will now be able to get their visas upon arrival in Tbilisi, after the Armenian Government decided to relax visa norms for these two countries.
London, Dec 11 (ANI): A recent study had claimed that concentric rings within the cosmic microwave background could provide evidence of black holes that collided in the past, before our Universe existed but three new independent studies have challenged that claim.
Washington, Nov 30 (ANI): A new analysis of the relic radiation has suggested that the universe got its start eons earlier and has cycled through myriad episodes of birth and death, with the Big Bang merely the most recent in a series of starting guns.
New Delhi, Nov.10 (ANI): Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian has arrived on a four-day State visit.
Tbilisi, Nov 8 (ANI): Authorities in Georgia have revealed that two Armenian nationals tried to sell highly enriched uranium to people they thought were terrorists in March, adding that the bomb grade nuclear material was smuggled across the border from the former Soviet republic of Armenia in a cigarette pack.
Moscow, Aug.20 (ANI): Russia could provide more than 20 percent of the funding for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Armenia, worth an estimated five billion dollars, Russia's nuclear chief said on Friday.
Washington, June 10 (ANI): Researchers have stumbled upon the world's oldest leather shoe - a perfectly preserved foot wear in an Armenian cave.
Hong Kong (China), Apr.13 (ANI): Developing Asia's strong recovery from the effects of the global economic crisis is expected to continue through the next two years, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says in a new major report.
London, Feb 8(ANI): An easy draw for the Euro 2012 has made England the favourites in the bookies eyes, who are so convinced of the Three Lions getting through to the finals that they have been immediately installed at an incredibly short-price of 1-10.
London, January 20 (ANI): Geologists have explained some of the reasons why the Haiti mega earthquake killed such a large number of people.
London, Oct 17 (ANI): Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez could barely conceal his anger after his two prized players, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, picked up the injuries on international duty.
Yerevan (Armenia), Oct.16 (ANI): The Iranian Embassy here has vigorously denied rumors of that country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei falling into a coma and dying this week, Fox News has quoted an Armenian news site as reporting.
London, October 04 (ANI): Kim Kadarshian has opened up about the secrets of her sexy body and revealed that she recently got sun burnt which left her immensely worried.
Washington, October 1 (ANI): An Armenian-American-Irish archeological expedition claims to have found the remains of the world's oldest human brain, estimated to be over 5,000 years old.
Tehran, July 15 (ANI): Iranian state television on Wednesday said 150 people had died in plane crash in the north western part of the country.
Melbourne (Australia), June 1 (ANI): Sixteen of the world's most wanted killers, sex predators, and fraudsters are hiding out in Australia, according to the police.
New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) Indian boxer Sandeep bagged the silver medal in the World Junior Boxing Championship at Yerevan in Armenia Saturday. He lost to local hero Koryun Soghomonyan in the final of the 46 kilogram category.
New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) Indian boxer Sandeep Friday kept himself in the fray for a gold medal while his compatriots Namit Bahadur, Vikas Khatri and Shiva Thapa ended their campaign with bronze medals in the World Junior Boxing Championship at Yerevan in Armenia.
New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) Three Indian boxers stormed into the semi-finals of the World Junior Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, Wednesday.
New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) Indian boxers surged ahead in the World Junior championships with three more making it to the quarterfinals in Yerevan, Armenia.
New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Three Indian boxers moved to the quarter-finals of World Junior boxing championships in Yerevan, Armenia Monday.
New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Indian boxers made a formidable start in the World Junior Boxing Championships, with Shiva Thapa and Sumit Sangwan outpunching their opponents to advance to the second round in Yerevan, Armenia.
New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Indian boxers were off to a flying start in the World Junior Boxing Championships, with Shiva Thapa and Yuriy Shestak outpunching their opponents to advance to the second round in Yerevan, Armenia.
