State Magazine (U.S. Dept. of State)
Feb 2005
page 11-15
P O S T O F T H E M O N T H
By Kimberly Hargan
YEREVAN
U.S. Helps Land of Noah’s Ark Steer Toward Future
Armenia is a young country in an ancient land. The Republic of
Armenia has been independent in its present form only since the
dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991.
But the earliest mention of the region dates to the 13th century
B.C., in Assyrian descriptions of the kingdom of Urartu, which was
succeeded by the kingdom of Armenia in the 6th century B.C. The
biblical book of Genesis refers to Noah’s landing on Mt. Ararat,
visible directly to the south of the capital, Yerevan. (As a result
of the shifting sands of history, Mt. Ararat, located near the center
of the ancient Armenian kingdom, is now just across the border in
Turkey.)
Archaeological evidence indicates there were settlements in the
area of Yerevan from the 6th to the 3rd millennium B.C. The name
Yerevan derives from a fortress settlement, Erebuni, established in
783 B.C. The ruins of Erebuni can still be seen on a hilltop in the
city. In 301 A.D., King Trdat (Tiridates) III was converted to
Christianity by St. Gregory the Illuminator and decreed that his
kingdom would follow suit, making Armenia Armenia the world’s first
Christian nation. Around 400, Bishop Mesrop Mashtots devised an
alphabet for the Armenian language for his translation of the Bible.
The resulting literary and religious traditions have remained at
the core of Armenian identity.
Current U.S. involvement in Armenia got started in 1988 with relief
efforts following a terrible earthquake. After independence, the
country lost most of its Soviet industrial base and economic
connections. It also faced the closure of its borders to the east
(with Azerbaijan) and west (withTurkey) as a result of the conflict
in Nagorno-Karabakh. In those years, most buildings were without
central heating or electricity, so trees were cut down and a
spiderweb of overhead electrical lines grew as Armenians borrowed
electricity where they could find it.
While the first years of U.S. assistance concentrated on humanitarian
needs, it’s now aimed at development. Armenia was once considered the
Silicon Valley of the Soviet Union, providing advanced avionics for
Soviet aircraft and supercomputers. Literacy is nearly 100 percent,
reflecting the high priority placed on education. But the Armenian
economy collapsed. Recent annual growth rates from 8 to 12 percent a
year should allow the gross domestic
product this year to return to its 1991 level.
A unique factor in the U.S.-Armenian relationship is the
Armenian-American diaspora, which consists of several generations of
Armenians who fled from troubles in this corner of the world and now
call the United States home. Earlier immigrants settled around
Fresno, Calif.; Boston and Detroit. Many of the post-Soviet
immigrants have created a Little Armenia in Glendale, Calif., a
suburb of Los Angeles.
With their penchant for business, they have adapted well to life in
America, including politics. They lobby Congress enthusiastically on
behalf of their homeland. So the embassy works not only with
audiences in Armenia, but with an American “constituency” with
considerable interest in U.S. policy and actions in Armenia.
The U.S. Mission focuses on improving regional security
and stability, fostering the development of democratic institutions
and encouraging broad-based and sustainable economic
growth. State’s non-proliferation and border security
program office helps prevent the movement of materials for
weapons of mass destruction. The Bureau of International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs works with
Armenian authorities to combat transportation of narcotics,
money laundering and trafficking in persons. The
U.S. Agency for International Development works on
democracy and social reform, public health, economic
restructuring and energy. The Department of Defense handles
military-to-military relations and some humanitarian
assistance. The Department of Agriculture has introduced
an American-style extension service and created a marketing
assistance program. Treasury assists and trains government
officials in modern methods of budgeting and financial
control. More than 90 Peace Corps volunteers teach
English, advise small and medium enterprises, and develop
environmental awareness.
A new chancery
overlooking Lake
Yerevan, with a beautiful
view of Mt. Ararat,
is being completed.
There is no clearer
demonstration of U.S.
long-term commitment
than this state-of-theart
facility.
”
The staff required to manage all these programs has grown
tremendously over the last decade. The embassy building, the
former Communist Youth League headquarters, is overcrowded.
Located on a major thoroughfare, it doesn’t meet
current security or earthquake safety standards, crucial in this
seismically active zone. A new chancery overlooking Lake
Yerevan, with a beautiful view of Mt. Ararat, is being completed.
The move is scheduled for early April. There is no
clearer demonstration of U.S. long-term commitment than
this state-of-the-art facility.
Yerevan continues to be a hardship posting. Public buildings
are often minimally heated during winter, if at all.
Visitors to schools and offices will see students or staff bundled
up in thick coats, scarves and hats. Most imports come
overland through Georgia or Iran, which makes for short
supplies, high prices and some petty corruption.
International flights to Yerevan involve long layovers and latenight
arrivals.
In spite of these difficulties, an assignment to Armenia can
be rewarding. The people are warm and hospitable, often
inviting foreigners to join them in family celebrations. The
culture is rich. Traditional music and dance flourish even in
the face of competition from MTV and other sources of
global influences. You can hunt for paintings, sculptures and
handwoven carpets in open-air markets. Classical music,
opera, ballet and jazz all thrive. As the economy improves,
restaurants, cafes and clubs in Yerevan expand. The mountainous
countryside is spectacular and churches,monasteries
and other monuments from prehistoric times onward are
sprinkled throughout the country.
In a country the size of Maryland, with a population of
around three and a quarter million, it’s easy to see changes
and meet the people who benefit directly from U.S. programs.
Armenians at all levels eagerly look to the United
States for support in moving from their Soviet past into the
community of modern democratic nations. ¦
The author is the public affairs officer in Yerevan.
AT A G L A N C E
SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2004
Country name: Armenia
Capital: Yerevan
Government: Republic
Independence: September 21, 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Population: 3.2 million
Languages: Armenian and Russian
Total area: 29,000 square kilometers
Approximate size: Slightly smaller than Maryland
Currency: Dram (AMD)
Per capita income: $3,500
Unemployment rate: 20%
Export commodities: Diamonds, minerals, food products and energy
Export partners: Belgium (18.2%), United Kingdom (16.8%) and Israel
(15.7%)
Literacy rate: 98.6%
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