South Western Asia page

Top of page - menu

Armenia Map of Armenia

Population: 3,5 million
Capital: Yerevan
Offisial language:
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

Background: An Orthodox 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 exclave, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the exclave 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.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)

More Background: BBC Country profile: Armenia

Armenia was the first Christian state in the world (around 300 AD). The culture and history of Armenia is complex. Locked in between Russia and Turkey, and as a part of the Ottoman Empire. Armenian history is the history of genocide and earthquake.

The old Armenian religious chant music was monophonic. Polyphony was introduced in religous music in the nineteenht century. The traditonal folk music is still monophonic with underlaying dronenotes (steady subnotes). Armenia shares the modal scales and quarter notes with the Middle East.

The most famous Armenian artists outside Armenia is Djivan Gasparyan. He is descirebed as the "Voice of Persecution and Longing".

Artists from Armenia:

• Armenian Navy Band
• Djivan Gasparyan
• Arto Tuncboyciyan

Top of page - menu

Azerbaijan Map of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan are also considered as a part of Central Asia (ed. remark).

Population: 7,5 million
Capital: Baku
Official language:
Ethnic groups: Azeri 90%, Dagestani 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998 est.)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region

Background: Azerbaijan - a nation of Turkic Muslims - has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost almost 20% of its territory and must support some 750,000 refugees as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)

More Background: BBC Country profile: Azerbaijan

Mugham is the clasical music in Azerbaijan, an ancient tradition that has been passed from generation to generation orally, without notation. It is used to be played by a trio: a singer or "khanandé", with an ensemble, or "sazandé", composed by tar and kemancheb. The singer uses to play a frame drum, called "daff", or a gaval, with metal rings and bells in the frame. The tar is a long-necked lute with eleven strings, and the kemancheb is a spike fiddle with four steel wings.
Azerbaijan has an important tradition of ashiq, bards accompaying themselves by saz (lute). They uses eight basic tunes and the semi-improvise stories under them. Sometimes they use to sing in competition, face to face, improvising replies one to the other.

Artists from Azerbaijan:

* Alim Qasimov and Ferghana

Top of page - menu

Georgia Map of Georgia

Population: 5 million
Capital: T'bilisi
Official language: Georgian 71%
note: Abkhaz (official in Abkhazia)
Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%

Background: Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Russian troops remain garrisoned at four military bases and as peacekeepers in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The country continues to move toward a market economy and greater integration with Western institutions.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)

More Background: BBC Country profile: Georgia