Armenia. History and origin

Armenia, once a republic of the now defunct Soviet Union, is an independent country and a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Armenia was under the strict control of the Soviet central government until 1990, when the republic called for greater control of its own affairs. In the midst of political upheaval in the Soviet in August 1991, Armenia declared its independence. When the Soviet Union was dissolved in December 1991, Armenia joined the newly established CIS.

Earthquakes occur frequently in the geologically active region. A violent quake devastated western Armenia in 1988, killing about 25,000 people and causing severe property damage. The force of the earthquake virtually destroyed the town of Spitak, which lay at its epicenter.

Armenia lies on the Armenian Plateau, a rugged highland. The average altitude of Armenia is 5,000 ft. (1,500 m)

About two-thirds of the value of Armenia's economic production comes from manufacturing, including chemicals, electronic products, machinery, processed food, synthetic rubber, and textiles. Armenia is also a leading distiller of cognac. Armenian farmers produce such fruit crops as almonds, figs, and pomegranates on terraced hillsides, while barley, corn, and wheat thrive on the lower plains.

The small, ancient land of Armenia has seen periods of great power and prosperity, but there have also been times in which its people suffered greatly under foreign rule. From earliest times, the Armenian people have had to fight hard to preserve their ethnic culture.

King Tigran II, who came to power in 95 B.C., built an independent Armenian empire that stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The Romans defeated Tigran in 55 B.C. and made Armenia part of the Roman Empire.

The Arabs conquered the region in the A.D. 600's, followed by the Seljuk Turks in the mid-1000's. In 1375, the Armenian kingdom fell to Mameluke invaders, and by 1514, the Ottoman Turks had gained control of Armenia. The Persians took over eastern Armenia in 1 639 and ruled the region until 1828, when Russia annexed it. Western Armenia remained under Turkish control.

During World War I (1914-1918), Armenia became a battleground between Turkey and Russia. The Turks deported countless Armenians to what is now Syria to keep them from aiding Russia. About 1 million Armenians died from lack of water and starvation or were killed by Turkish soldiers or Arabs and Kurds. Those who survived fled to Russian Armenia, where an independent

Armenian republic was established in 1918. When Turkey continued to threaten the new republic, the Armenians reluctantly turned to Soviet Russia for protection. In December 1920, eastern Armenia became a Soviet republic, while Turkey kept the rest of Armenia. In 1922, Soviet Armenia became part of the Soviet Union.

The Jermuk Waterfall spills down the rocky mountainside in a spectacular sight in the Armenian highlands. Thousands of people from neighboring regions come to the Jermuk Spa to enjoy the pure mountain air and picturesque scenery

Most of the people are Armenians, but small numbers of Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Russians also live in Armenia. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, disputes arose over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh—a district in neighboring Azerbaijan where the majority of the population was Armenian. The disputes led to fighting between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. By the end of 1993, Armenia controlled the district and occupied about 20 per cent of Azerbaijan. In May 1994, the two countries agreed to a cease-fire. Some 15,000 people died in the conflict.

In 1996, Armenia's presidential election was protested because many believed it had been marred by fraud. Within a couple years, the president resigned and the prime minister was elected as the new president. In October 1999, gunmen entered the parliament building and assassinated Armenia's prime minister and several other high-ranking officials. The gunmen were caught, and replacements were appointed for the slain officials.