William Shakespeare - "The Tragedie of Cymbeline"

Arthur Christopher Benson - "Watersprings"

Isabel Ecclestone Mackay - "The Window Gazer"

John Greenleaf Whittier - "Anti Slavery Poems II."

The 2002 CIA World Factbook

U >> US Government >> The 2002 CIA World Factbook




Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along
southwestern coast; floods; drought

Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links
Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

People Albania

Population: 3,544,841 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.8% (male 528,678; female 493,531) 15-64
years: 64% (male 1,094,034; female 1,175,024) 65 years and over: 7.2%
(male 111,524; female 142,050) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.06% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 18.59 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 38.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 75.14 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 2.27 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 100 (2000 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Gypsy, Serb,
and Bulgarian) (1989 est.) note: in 1989, other estimates of the
Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12%
(from a Greek organization)

Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note:
all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances
prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious
practice

Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek

Literacy: definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population:
93% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Government Albania

Country name: Republic of Albania conventional short form: of Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise

Government type: emerging democracy

Capital: Tirana

Administrative divisions: 36 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1
municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll (Bilisht), Diber
(Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Has (Krume),
Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove, Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe,
Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat
(Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande,
Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode), Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana),
Tropoje (Bajram Curri), Vlore note: administrative divisions have the same
names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative
center name following in parentheses)

Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Constitution: a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28
November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote

Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep
MEIDANI (since 24 July 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Pandeli
MAJKO (since 22 February 2002) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated
by the prime minister and approved by the president election results:
Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's Assembly vote by number -
total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7 elections:
president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election
last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2002); prime minister
appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor
(140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional
vote for four-year terms) election results: percent of vote by party -
PS 41.5%, PD and coalition allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%,
PASH 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies
46, NDP 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents 2 elections:
last held 24 June with subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22 July, 29 July,
19 August 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's
Assembly for a four-year term)

Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party or PASH [Lufter XHUVELI];
Albanian National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Shptim ROQI]; Albanian
Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS
(formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Christian
Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD
[Nerltan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist
Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA];
Liberal Union Party or PBL [Teodor LACO]; New Democratic Party or NDP
[Genc POLLO]; OMONIA [Vagjelis DULES]; Party of National Unity or PUK
[Idajet BEQUIRI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI];
Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACCT, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Dr. Fatos TARIFA chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX:
[1] (202) 628-7342 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Joseph LIMPRECHT embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing
address: U. S. Department of State, 9510
[355] (4) 247285 FAX:
Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Economy Albania

Economy - overview: Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is
making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The
government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to revive economic
activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from abroad
of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece and Italy. Agriculture,
which accounts for 52% of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought
and the need to modernize equipment and consolidate small plots of
land. Severe energy shortages are forcing small firms out of business,
increasing unemployment, scaring off foreign investors, and spurring
inflation.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 7.3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 52% industry: 21% services:
27% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line: 30% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 1.283 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers and
261,000 domestically unemployed) (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%

Unemployment rate: 17% officially (2001 est.); may be as high as 30%

Budget: revenues: $697 million expenditures: $1.5 billion, including
capital expenditures of $368 million (2002 est.)

Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement,
chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Industrial production growth rate: 9% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production: 4.738 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3% hydro: 97% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption: 5.378 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports: 100 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports: 1.072 billion kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits,
sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products

Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Exports - commodities: textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and
metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco

Exports - partners: Italy 70%, Greece 12%, Germany 6%, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2%, Austria 1% (2001)

Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles,
chemicals

Imports - partners: Italy 32%, Greece 26%, Turkey 6%, Germany 6%,
Bulgaria 2% (2001)

Debt - external: $1 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU,
Germany) (2000 est.)

Currency: lek (ALL)

Currency code: ALL

Exchange rates: leke per US dollar - 140.16 (November 2001), 143.71
(2000) 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997); note - leke is the
plural of lek

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications Albania

Telephones - main lines in use: 120,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 250,000 (2001)

Telephone system: general assessment: Albania has the poorest telephone
service in Europe with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants;
it is doubtful that every village has telephone service domestic:
obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village;
in 1992, following the fall of the Communist government, peasants cut the
wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences international:
inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from
the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece

Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios: 1 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions: 700,000 (2001)

Internet country code: .al

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 10 (2001)

Internet users: 12,000 (2001)

Transportation Albania

Railways: total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2001 est.)

Highways: total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: 43 km note: includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari,
Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)

Pipelines: crude oil 196 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km
(1996)

Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,423
GRT/20,837 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, includes some foreign-owned
ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Honduras 1
(2002 est.)

Airports: 11 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways: 4 (2001) 914 to 1,523 m: Heliports:
1 (2001)

Military Albania

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior
Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 888,086 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 727,406
(2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 35,792
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $56.5 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.49% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Albania

Disputes - international: the Albanian Government supports protection
of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders in the Kosovo
region of Yugoslavia and in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
while continuing to seek regional cooperation; many Albanians illegally
transit neighboring states to emigrate to western Europe

Illicit drugs: increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest
Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and -
to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western
Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian
narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002



========================================================================


Armenia

Introduction

Armenia

Background: An Armenian Apostolic Christian country, Armenia was
incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian
leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to
Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began
fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both
countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By
May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not
only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan
proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability
to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution.

Geography Armenia

Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area: total: 29,800 sq km water: 1,400 sq km land: 28,400 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries: total: 1,254 km border countries: Azerbaijan-proper
566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km,
Turkey 268 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast
flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point:
Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc,
alumina

Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 2% other: 80% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,870 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Environment - current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals
such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan
and disagreements with Turkey, has led to deforestation when citizens
scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers;
the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source
for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor
nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically-active zone

Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note: landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana
Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

People Armenia

Population: 3,330,099 note: Armenia's first census since independence
was conducted in October 2001, but official figures have not yet been
released (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.2% (male 374,597; female 363,115) 15-64
years: 67.7% (male 1,104,100; female 1,150,282) 65 years and over: 10.1%
(male 141,330; female 196,675) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.15% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 9.94 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 41.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 71.12 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 500 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian

Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi
Kurds) 2% (1989) note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had
emigrated from Armenia

Religions: Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi
(Zoroastrian/animist) 2%

Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)

Government Armenia

Country name: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Republic;
Armenian Republic local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun

Government type: republic

Capital: Yerevan

Administrative divisions: 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz);
Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak,
Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

Independence: 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30
March 1998) head of
Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May 2000) cabinet: elected
by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held
30 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); prime minister appointed
by the president election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president;
percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59.5%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 40.5%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin
Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms) elections: results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Unity Bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20),
Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21,
ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party
6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequently

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Agro-Technical People's Group
(formerly Stability Group) [Hmayk HOVHANISSIAN]; Armenian Communist
Party or ACP [Vladimir DARBINYAN]; Armenia Democratic Party [Armen
SARGSIAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF
[Hrant MARKARYAN]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN,
chairman]; Constitutional Rights Union [Hrant KHACHATRYAN]; Democratic
Liberal Party/Ramkvar Azatakyan or DL/RA [Ruben MIRZAKHANIAN, chairman];
Law and Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; Law-Governed Party
[Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; National Accord Front [Ashot MANUTCHARIAN];
National Democratic Alliance [Arshak ZADOYAN]; National Democratic Party
[Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN];
Pan-Armenian National Movement or PANM [Alex ARZOUMANYAN]; People's
Democratic Party [Gagik ASLANYAN]; People's Deputies Group [Hovhannes
HOVHANISSIAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic
Party [Aram SARGSIAN]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN];
Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM [Shogher MATEVOSIAN]; Social Democratic
(Hunchak) Party [Yeghia SHAMSHAYN]; Social Democratic Union (formerly
National Self-Determination Union) [Paruyr HAYRIKIAN]; Twenty-first
Century Party [David SHAKHNAZARIAN]; Unity Bloc [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN and
Andranik MARKARYAN] (a coalition of the Republican Party and People's
Party of Armenia); Yerkrapah Union [Manval GRIGORYAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arman
KIRAKOSIAN consulate(s) general: Los
[1] (202) 319-1976 chancery:
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John
M. ORDWAY embassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019 mailing address:
American Embassy Yerevan, Department of
[374](1) 521-611, 543-900 FAX:
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue,
and orange

Economy Armenia

Economy - overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system,
Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine
tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in
exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the
USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture
away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The
agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated
technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but
has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia
is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small.
The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated
region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed
economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe
economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian
Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program
that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2001. Armenia also
managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and medium-sized
enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in recent
years have been largely offset by the energy supplied by one of its
nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has
been offset somewhat by international aid, domestic restructuring of
the economy, and foreign direct investment.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 9.6% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,350 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 32% services:
39% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line: 55% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 35.2% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index: 44.4 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 1.4 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 44%, services 14%, industry 42%
(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20% note: official rate is 10.9% for 2000 (2001 est.)

Budget: revenues: $358 million expenditures: $458 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines,
electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric,
chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, gem cutting, jewelry
manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy

Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (2001)

Electricity - production: 5.69 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.34% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 32.34% hydro: 31.32%

Electricity - consumption: 4.89 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports: 704 million kWh note: exports an unknown quantity
to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan
(2000)

Electricity - imports: 300 million kWh note: imports an unknown quantity
from Iran (2000)

Agriculture - products: fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Exports: $338.5 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Exports - commodities: diamonds, scrap metal, machinery and equipment,
brandy, copper ore

Exports - partners: Belgium 23%, Russia 15%, US 13%, Iran 10% (2000)

Imports: $868.6 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)

Imports - commodities: natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products,
foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - partners: Russia 15%, US 12%, Belgium 10%, Iran 9% (2000)

Debt - external: $839 million (June 2001)

Economic aid - recipient: $245.5 million (1995)

Currency: dram (AMD)

Currency code: AMD

Exchange rates: drams per US dollar - 564.08 (January 2002), 555.08
(2001), 539.53 (2000), 535.06 (1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications Armenia

Telephones - main lines in use: 568,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 25,000 (2001)

Telephone system: general assessment: system inadequate; now 90%
privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion domestic:
the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan
(this includes paging and mobile cellular service) international: Yerevan
is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran;
additional international service is available by microwave radio relay
and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of
Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by
satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat
(2000)

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