Armenia (Armenian: , Hayastan, , Hayq), officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked mountainous country in the Southern Caucasus (Transcaucasus), bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan to the south. A former republic of the Soviet Union, Armenia is one of the oldest and most historic civilizations in the world. It is considered to be the place where Biblical Noah and his descendants first settled, as well as the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion. Although Armenia is constitutionally a secular state, Christianity plays a major role in both its history and the identification of the Armenian people.

Armenia is currently a member of more than 35 different international organizations including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the World Trade Organization. It is also an observer member of the Eurasian Economic Community, La Francophonie, and the Non-Aligned Movement. The country is an emerging democracy and because of its strategic location, it is in both the Russian and American spheres of influence.

Etymology

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The history goes back to the Urartian, or Ararat Kingdom. Urartu was the The first Armenian Kingdom in South-Eastern Anatolia. The modern Armenian name for the country was Hayq, later Hayastan. Hayasa, combined with the Sanskrit suffix '-stan' (land). Haik was one of the great Armenian leaders after whom the The Land of Haik was named. According to legend, Haik was a great-great-grandson of Noah (son of Togarmah, who was a son of Gomer, who was a son of Japheth, who was a son of Noah), and according to an ancient Armenian tradition, a forefather of all Armenians. He is said to have settled at the foot of Mount Ararat, travelled to assist in building the Tower of Babel, and, after his return, defeated the Babylonian king Bel (believed by some researchers to be Nimrod) on August 11, 2492 BC near the mountains of Lake Van, in the southern part of historic Armenia (present-day eastern Turkey).

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Armenian News - PanARMENIAN.Net

"Akhtamar", first in "Armenian legends retold" film series premiers in Moscow
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:52:00 -0000
Starting December 1, the film will be available for free viewing.
Official meeting of Armenia, Poland defense ministers held in Yerevan
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:25:00 -0000
After the official welcoming ceremony the two ministers held talks behind closed doors and then with other participants.
Yerevan to host "Pharmaceutics’ competitiveness in Armenia" forum
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:10:00 -0000
The event aims at discussion of current situation, development perspectives and collaboration strengthening.
Iran tests new missile
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:47:00 -0000
Iranian Defense Minister announced the country had successfully tested its Shaheen missile.
India plans to open IT education center in Armenia
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:43:00 -0000
NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan has received newly appointed Indian Ambassador Achal Kumar Malhotra.
School students will play "Brain ring" to support healthy lifestyle
Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:41:00 -0000
On World AIDS Day, students from 5 Armenian regions will play an intellectual game.

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