A country in west Asia, formerly a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.

Physical

The Republic of Armenia comprises the north‐eastern part of the historic kingdom of Armenia, the rest of this region forming part of Turkey.

Economy

Mineral resources include copper, lead, and zinc, and there has been rapid industrial expansion, particularly in diamond processing and jewellery, mechanical engineering, clothing and textiles, chemicals, motor vehicles, food processing, microelectronics and software, and mining. Agriculture remains important as a source of employment. There is considerable hydroelectric potential, but Armenia is dependent on imports for its other energy requirements.

History

An independent Armenian republic was proclaimed in 1920, but in 1922 this was reunited with its former partners, Georgia and Azerbaijan, as the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic. This split in 1936 and the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia was proclaimed. In 1989 ethnic violence erupted over the status of the Armenian region of Nagorno Karabakh (Christian) within Azerbaijan (Shiite Muslim). Armenia became independent in 1991, having declared itself no longer part of the Soviet Union. Sporadic violence in Nagorno Karabakh has continued, despite a ceasefire agreement (1994), and Armenia temporarily withdrew from peace talks in 1995. In 1996 the region unilaterally declared independence. Attempts to broker a permanent peace settlement have continued. Armenia’s first parliamentary elections since independence were held in 1995 and a new constitution was approved by a referendum. The nationalist Robert Kocharian was elected President in 1998 and 2003. He was succeeded by Serzh Sargsyan in 2008, who was re-elected in 2013. In an abrupt change of direction in 2013, the government abandoned an association agreement with the EU in favour of joining a customs union (now called the Eurasian Economic Union) with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan in 2014. In 2015 Sargsyan withdrew from parliament the option for ratification of an arrangement to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey.