Armenia
Business visitors should be aware that in many cases, every stage of their contacts/negotiations with Armenian businessmen may be accompanied by much wining and dining. Giving gifts, visits to homes and historic sites in the countryside are also common. Foreign contacts should not be discouraged by belated replies to their inquiries, letters, and faxes, or by the lack of a reply. Reliable international communication is very expensive and often not accessible to many Armenians. This, combined with old Soviet-era working habits, means that many Armenian firms answer only correspondence that is of vital interest to them. The need to respond promptly is, however, gradually becoming accepted in the Armenian business community.
Due to differences in interpretation and understanding of some business terminology (some of which is very new for Armenia), businessmen should make absolutely sure that the content of their communications, negotiations and agreements with Armenian partners are thoroughly understood. Information resources in Armenia are mainly concentrated in the hands of state ministries and agencies, employees of which, below the top management level, have no decision making power or access to information. Often, they are unwilling to provide necessary information.
Corruption is a factor in the majority of state organizations in Armenia, including such enforcement bodies as police and customs departments. Though foreigners are largely exempt, there may be cases where officials will delay a process, and let you know directly or indirectly that a good "tip" may fix things immediately.
The overall crime and safety situation in Armenia continues to be a concern for expatriates. Criminals often target expatriates as victims of assault, robbery and burglary. Criminals are often armed with edged weapons, and may use force if resisted. Break-in/thefts from residences and vehicles, and pickpocketing-type incidents are common occurrences. Street crime continues to rise (especially car break-ins and robberies).
Unlike other countries in the region, carjackings have not yet become a widespread problem.
Visitors to Armenia should exercise the same common sense precautions that would apply in a comparably sized city. Pay particular attention to your surroundings in crowded market areas. Embassy officials recommend avoiding carrying passports, credit cards or airplane tickets. If nighttime travel is necessary, carry a flashlight - sidewalks are in poor condition and stairwells are seldom lighted, and are a common site of criminal attack. Lock valuables out of sight in vehicles and use a lockable gas cap.
Private security companies provide little professional training and very low pay to their staffs, and are not recommended. Local residents often do not bother to call police in order to report minor crimes due to their ineffectiveness and the fact that low level police are so poorly paid that they often solicit bribes to perform their duties. Police will often blame expat victims for the crimes perpetrated against them.
Since 2006 began, the Armenian press has reported a rise in organized crime activity. This does not normally affect tourists, however.
Hotels previously run by Intourist are now mostly being privatized. In Yerevan the new Armenia Hotel is an Armenian/German joint venture, functioning exclusively in foreign currency and supplied with power from its own generators. The Hotel Hrazdan, mainly occupied by foreign missions, also has its own generator, but is state-owned and functions primarily as a guesthouse for official visitors. Private individuals may occasionally be allowed to stay there by special arrangement. The Hotel Dvin, opposite the Hrazdan, is less comfortable but has privileged supplies of electricity and running water. It also has a satellite telephone service for guests.
The main hotels inlcude:
Hotel Armenia, One Amiryan Street, Yerevan 375010; Tel: (374-2)525-393, 560-844, 569-040; Fax: (374-2)151-802,
Hotel BASS, 3 Aigedzor St., Yerevan 375019: tel: (374-2) 221-353, 26-41-56
HyBusiness Suites (hotel & office rent, American-Armenian Joint Venture) 8 Hanrapetutyan St., Yerevan, 375010, Artmenia. Tel:(374-2) 523-983, 583-543, 580-070 fax: (374-2) 151-678.
Hotel Hrazdan, 72 Pionerakan St., Yerevan, 375002; Tel: (374-2)535-332, 535-302; Fax: (374-2)537-095 (reservations require governmental permission)
Hotel Ani, 19 Sayat-Nova Ave, Yerevan, 275010; Tel: (374-2)523-961, 582-638, Fax:(374-2)520-545.
Hotel Dvin, 40 Paronyan St., Yerevan, 375002; Tel: (374-2) 536-343; Fax:(374-2)151-528.
Hotel Erebuni, 26/1 Nalbandyan St., Yerevan, 375010; Tel: (374-2)564-943, 584-834.
Hotel ARMA, 275, Norgi Ayginer, Yerevan; Tel: (374-2)581-843, 654-221, gov.tel:56-36, Fax: (374-2)522-779.
The regular Armenian telephone network provides direct-dial long distance service only to NIS destinations. International calls outside of NIS require operator assistance by calling 05 and reserving a call. The connection is normally made within 5-15 minutes. The telecom network in Yerevan is currently being completely modernized and digitized by ArmenTel - an American- Armenian joint venture. The company also operates paging and cellular service. It is expected that by the end of 1999, downtown Yerevan will enjoy reliable and digital direct-dial telephone service. E-mail services are rendered by the providers based in Yerevan: ARMINCO LLC. 28 Isahakyan St. Yerevan, 375009, Armenia; tel:(374-2) 526-326, 281-425, Fax:(374-2)285-082; E-mail: postmaster@arminco.com and support@arminco.com. INFOCOM, 22 Saryan Street, floor 4, Yerevan, 375002, Armenia; Tel & fax: 7(8852)528-856, or 151-926; E-mail: postmaster@mtd.armenia.su
Electricity is a 220 Volts AC50Hz. Power shortages and blackouts are common.
220 volts AC, 50Hz. European plugs with two round pins are used.
C,F
A restaurant and cafe culture is starting to flourish again in Armenia, with street stalls and privately run establishments replacing the colorless state restaurants typical of the Soviet era. New cafes and restaurants open daily. Many of the cafes are in parks, and are very popular in summer with locals and tourists alike.
Things to know: Much Armenian cooking is based on lamb, either grilled and served as shashlik with flat bread, or prepared as soup (the most popular being bozbash, a dish which exists in infinite variations) or stew, often in combination with fruit
or nuts. A meal usually starts with a large spread of hors d’oeuvres, which may include peppers and vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat, pickled and fresh vegetables, salty white sheep’s cheese eaten with fresh green herbs and flat bread, and various kinds of cured meat (basturma).
During the season following the grape harvest, locals sell effervescent, mildly fermented grape juice from roadside stands. Armenia is also abundant in all kinds of sweet-tasting fruits, from figs to pomegranates to quince. Coffee is served Turkish-style – strong and black in tiny cups – although in view of national sensibilities, visitors would be ill-advised to refer to this cultural similarity. National specialties:
• Sharots (Sujukh) is cooked with grape juice and a dark cherry-colored syrup called doshab.
• Lavash is a think, paper-like bread.
• Shampours are skewers that are jam-packed with all kinds of marinated meat and vegetables
• Delectable walnut jam (popok muraba).
• Tolma (vegetables, grape leaves and lentils).
• Ghapama is pumpkin stew with rice, raisins, apples and cinnamon.
• Khash is a national institution rather than just a dish, with poems and songs throughout the centuries being composed in homage to it: in case you are wondering, khash is a delicious broth made from hamhocks and herbs and served with lots of garlic and bread.
• K'rchik is pickled cabbage cooked with wheat kernels.
• Among Armenia's many varieties of fresh fish available, try steamed Ishkhan (lake trout).
• Almost magical, health-giving properties are ascribed to dried apricots from the Caucasus.
• For dessert, eat a dish made from grape juice, dried into thin sheets of a deep, reddish brown color, and then rolled up into long cylinders around walnuts or other nuts. National drinks:
• Brandies are exceptional (Dvin).
• Kotayk and Kihikia are Armenian beers worth giving a go.
• Armenian wine is well worth tasting: the Areni red wine is particularly lauded and many are semi- sweet or dessert wines and are world-renowned.
Legal drinking age: There is no minimum. Tipping:
Expected by waiters and doormen in restaurants – sometimes in advance to ensure service. Taxi fares should always be negotiated before starting a journey, and visitors should be aware that rates proposed initially are likely to be unreasonably high, in the expectation that foreigners will have unlimited cash and little idea of how much they ought to be paying. It is therefore advisable to make enquiries about ‘going rates’ per kilometer of travel before entering into negotiations with taxi drivers. The same applies to market stall holders and so on.Nightlife
There are restaurants and nightclubs featuring local music in Yerevan. There are several restaurants, clubs and discos. There are several casinos. Opera, theater and ballet performances are of a high standard, and tickets are cheap (about the equivalent of US$5). Armenians love music, from the traditional, liturgical songs (Sharakans) with distinctive musical instruments, to contemporary jazz and pop. There will often be venues accommodating for this at night. There are often concerts at the Philharmonic, Chamber Music Hall and Opera & Ballet House in Yerevan.
