Armenia

G

Culture

The ancient Kingdom of Van or Urartu was the foundation on which Armenian civilization began in the 6th century bc, and the kingdom was notable for its ornamental glass, ceramics, jewellery, and arms, in particular its production of bronze objects. Armenia’s literary legacy is also ancient, with written literature dating from the 5th century ad, and a tradition of Christianity as a state religion dating from the 4th century ad. Its position between East and West and a role in the development of Indo-European languages has ensured a rich literary heritage. St Gregory of Narekatzi (951-1001), renowned author of hymns and mystical poems, is considered to be the first great Armenian poet, and the author of one of the most widely read works in Armenia. Love poetry became common in Armenia, and during the 16th and 18th centuries it was performed by popular bards. One of the greatest exponents of the form was Sayat Nova (died 1795), who composed his songs of courtly love in Armenian, Azeri, and Georgian. The 19th century saw the dawn of modern Armenian literature, with Khatchatour Abovian (1804-1848) being one of the first authors to adopt modern Armenian for his writing. There are state theatres of opera and ballet, several theatres and orchestras, and a national dance company.

IV

Economy

Armenia is highly industrialized. Industry comprised 44 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006, and some 17 per cent of the labour force was employed in industry. The GNP was US$3,205 million in 2004, or US$1,920 per capita. Industrial production is dominated by manufacturing and mining, including gold, copper, zinc, and silver. Electrical engines, machine tools, and chemical products, such as synthetic rubber, comprise the chief manufactured goods. Manufacturing output in the mid-1990s was adversely affected by energy shortages, lack of spare parts, and dependence on imported raw materials, but production has begun to increase in some areas. Inward foreign investment has been limited, but plans have been announced to seek investment and management, by tender from the private sector, for an important part of the copper industry.

A

Agriculture

Agriculture is the largest sector of the Armenian economy, producing about one quarter of the country’s GDP in 1991 and 20 per cent in 2006. It employs 46 per cent of the total labour force. Principal crops include wheat, potatoes, tobacco, vegetables, grapes, and other fruits. Agriculture is highly dependent on irrigation, especially in areas near the Aras in the republic’s south. Local food production does not satisfy domestic needs, however, so Armenia must import large quantities of food from abroad. During the Soviet period, Armenia imported about 60 per cent of its bread and nearly two thirds of its dairy products from other republics. The economic blockade by Azerbaijan and the civil war in Georgia caused food supplies to greatly diminish, but in contrast to industrial production, agricultural output increased considerably in the early 1990s. The increase in domestic food production was caused in part by the privatization of land holdings, which began in 1991, and resulted in the transfer of 80 per cent of land and more than 85 per cent of collective farms into the private sector.

B

Mining

Deposits of copper, zinc, bauxite, lead, molybdenum, marble, basalt, and granite are exploited on a small scale, and salt and gypsum are also mined. In 1991 production of gypsum was 172,000 tonnes and 103,000 tonnes of unrefined salt were produced. A joint-venture deal relating to gold mining has been agreed with a Canadian company on the development of a US$12 million processing plant in Ararat.

C

Manufacturing

Prior to independence most production was in the light industrial sector, with some heavy industry associated with the metallurgical and chemical industries. There was also a large defence industry during the Soviet era. The economic crisis led to a substantial fall in manufacturing output, and many enterprises engaged in the defence industry have moved into different fields. Armenia has not benefited from a great deal of foreign investment, largely due to its location and the unsettled politics of the region.