Short facts about the government of Armenia

Country name:

conventional long form:  Republic of Armenia conventional short form:  Armenia local long form:  Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form:  Hayastan former:  Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Yerevan

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces (marzer, singular - marz) and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular - k'aghak'); 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 government:  Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May 2000) cabinet:  Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections:  president 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 serve four-year terms) elections:  last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of 2003) election 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:

Armenia Party [Myasnik ALKHASYAN]; Armenian Communist Party or ACP [Vladimir DARBINYAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN, chairman]; Democratic Liberal Party [Ramkavar AZATAKAN, chairman]; Free Armenian's Mission [Ruben MNATSANIAN, chairman]; Law and Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; Law-Governed Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Mission Party [Artush PAPOIAN, chairman]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National State Party [Samvel SHAGINIAN]; Pan-Armenian National Movement or PANM [Vano SIRADEGHYAN]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM [Gayane SARUKHYAN]; Social Democratic (Hnchakian) Party [Ernst SOGOMONYAN]; Stability Group [Vartan AYVAZIAN, chairman]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU [Paruir HAIRIKIAN, chairman]; Unity Bloc [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN and Andranik MARKARYAN] (a coalition of the Republican Party and People's Party of Armenia)

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, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (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 chancery:  2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:  [1] (202) 319-1976 FAX:  [1] (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general:  Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Michael C. LEMMON embassy:  18 Marshal Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan mailing address:  American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7020 telephone:  [374] (2) 52-16-11 FAX:  [374] (2) 151-550

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange

Source: World Factbook