IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL Business Customs Many Armenians, despite decades of Soviet rule, managed somehow to preserve their historically inherited entrepreneurial spirit. However, foreigners working in Armenia will encounter a layer of oriental traditions and approaches sometimes combined with remnants of Soviet working mentality. In general, foreigners should be aware that in many cases, every stage of their contacts/negotiations with Armenian businessmen may be accompanied by much wining and dining. The giving of gifts, home visits, and visits to historic sites in the countryside are also not unheard of. Foreigners should not be discouraged by belated replies to their inquires, letters, and faxes, or by the lack of a reply. Reliable international communication is very expensive and often not accessible for many Armenians. This, along with the remnants of Soviet working habits, means that many Armenians 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), foreigners are strongly encouraged to make absolutely sure that the content of their communications/negotiations/agreements with an Armenian partner is adequately understood. Information resources in Armenia are mainly concentrated in the hands of state organizations, employees of which, below the ministerial level, have no incentive to work effectively. Often, they are unwilling to provide necessary information. Corruption is a widespread and stubbornly growing phenomenon in the majority of state organizations in Armenia, including such controlling bodies as the police and the customs department. Though foreigners are largely exempt, there may be cases where officials will delay approval of an application to rent an office from a state agency, for transportation, licensing, and let you know directly or indirectly that a good "tip" may fix things immediately. When this happens, U.S. businessmen should feel free to consult with the U.S. Embassy's Commercial Section. Travel Advisory And Visas Americans travelling to Armenia should obtain an entry visa from the Armenian Embassy in Washington or from the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Armenia immediately upon arrival. Visas are valid for the following periods: Visas obtained without an invitation.................21-day Visas obtained with an official invitation ..........period specified in the invitation Transit visa..........................................3 days Multi-entry and transit visas.......................one year Payment of the visa processing fee is from $20 to $200 depending on the type of the visa, and should be made with a certified check or money order to: Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, 1660 L street, N.W., Suite 210, Washington, D.C. 20036. For more information call 202-393-5983, from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Travellers to Armenia are strongly encouraged to bring with them as much cash as possible. Credits cards and checks are not accepted. A few banks have started to cash travellers checks. Holidays Jan 1-2 New Year Jan 6 Christmas Apr 7 Motherhood and Beauty Day April 24 Genocide Memorial Day May 9 Victory Day (WWII) May 28 Independence Day Sep 21 Referendum Day Dec 7 Earthquake Memorial Day Business Infrastructure HOTELS: Hotel Armenia, 1 Amiryan Street, Yerevan, Tel: (8852)569-040 Hotel Hrazdan, 72 Pionerakan St., Yerevan, Tel: (8852)535-332 Hotel Ani, 19 Sayat-Nova Ave, Yerevan, Tel: (8852)520-775 Hotel Dvin, 40 Paronyan St., Yerevan, Tel: (8852)534-851 Hotel Erebuni, 26/1 Nalbandyan St., Yerevan, Tel: (8852)564-943 Hotel Shirak, 13A Khorenatsi St., Yerevan, Tel: (8852)561-209 Government Guest House, Yerevan, Tel: (8852)522-403 RESTAURANTS: Dzoragyugh, 1 Paronyan St., Yerevan. Tel: (8852)537-670 Krakov, 27 Tumanyan St., Yerevan. Tel: (8852)562-020 Ararat, Republic Square, Yerevan. Tel: (8852)527-382 Sunk, 11A Kievian St., Yerevan. Tel: (8852)227-519 Kars, Tel: (8852)635-596, 636-583 Armenian Kitchen, Tel: (8852)480-303, 482-961 Cognac Factory, Tel: (8852)580-061 Wine Factory, Tel: 62-52 COMMUNICATIONS: The local telephone network in Armenia is in extremely poor condition, sometimes requiring numerous attempts at local or international numbers. Communications may be interrupted at any moment due to technical failure. Calling to the United States can be arranged solely through reserving a call (from 15 minutes to a day ahead, depending on usage during any particular period). Fax communications are unreliable and problematic. Residents and businesses in Yerevan, however, have an opportunity to subscribe to a special, but expensive, long distance service provided by the Yerevan Long Distance Exchange. It offers modern and reliable automatic long distance communication with the rest of the world via AT&T satellite equipment. The total capacity of the exchange is about 1000 numbers, of which only about 200 have been reserved since the beginning of the service in 1991 (the present users are mainly Armenian ministries and foreign missions). E-mail users are very few in Armenia and the relevant services are expedited by a few local private groups through INTERNET via Moscow. MEDICAL SERVICES: At present, medical institutions in Armenia are supervised by the Ministry of Health. The majority of them are in poor condition and the quality of service is not up to Western standards. Two general profile hospitals have been designated to serve foreigners: 1. To serve foreign diplomats - The Hospital of the 4th Main Administration of the Ministry of Health, Proshyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia. Contact Person: Mr. Karen Gulyan, MD. (speaks English). Tel: 7 (8852) 536-641. 2. To serve foreign travellers - The 4th Yerevan City Polyclinic, 13 Moscovyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia. Contact Person: Chief Doctor Ruben Vardanyan, Tel: 7 (8852) 580-395. For more information on these and other hospitals, private doctors, and pharmacies contact Mr. Sevak Avakyan, U.S. Programs Coordinator, International Relations Administration, Ministry of Health of Armenia, 8 Tumanyan Street, Yerevan, 375001, Armenia; Phone: 7(8852) 52-69-87, Fax:7(8852)56-29-23 or (AT&T) 7(8852)15- 10-97. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Armenia had a well-developed public transportation system. It has deteriorated significantly in the last few years. It includes buses, trolley buses, trams, vans - "route taxies", and a subway in Yerevan. Taxis are available in the capital and a few major cities. LANGUAGE: Armenian is the official language of the country. However, the majority of the population and business circles speaks Russian as well. English or French are mandatory third languages in local schools, and local Universities produce a significant number of English language specialists. Finding an interpreter or translator does not represent a problem. SHIPPING TO AND FROM ARMENIA: Rail transportation: As a landlocked country, Armenia organizes all shipments of its exports and imports by road, rail and air. The regional conflict has resulted in a four year embargo of Armenia by Azerbaijan, which was joined by Turkey in 1993. Due to civil unrest in Georgia, Armenia's land transportation routes - both rail and road - are cut off, and the country is forced to rely mainly on aviation (with shortages of fuel) and a few unstable, low-capacity, and insecure rail and road connections via Georgia and Iran. Of the four railroad routes connecting Armenia with the outside world via Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, the line from Armenia to Georgia remains the only operating one. It continues to operate, albeit sporadically. The railroad connects Yerevan to the Georgian ports of Batumi and Poti. This route formerly provided 10 percent of all rail transportation to and from Armenia. From Yerevan the line passes through Gyumri and Vanadzor - two major Armenian cities. The Georgian port of Poti is suitable for handling container shipments. The port of Batumi is used for most shipments of oil and oil products. This railroad now works at 25 percent of its former capacity. It is presently a lifeline by which different loads are shipped to and from Armenia. Average delivery time from Yerevan to these Black Sea ports is 4 days (700 km). Air transportation: At present, Armenian Airlines - the only official Armenian air carrier - does not have its own cargo planes. In 1992, the City Council of Yerevan purchased two IL-76 cargo aircraft, which mainly serve the government export and import programs, and bring in humanitarian aid. There are no regularly scheduled transportation operations at the present time. There are, however, a small number of companies, both public and private, that lease cargo planes in Russia or Ukraine for international shipment of goods to and from Armenia. The planes are usually chartered for only one or two flights, or leased for a brief period (e.g., a week or a month). Among Armenia's 6 civil airports with artificial field surfacing - only the largest ones - Zvartnots (in Yerevan), Erebuni (in Yerevan), and Shirak (in Gyumri) operate at present. Zvartnots is a modern appearing airport and can handle all types of planes, including the largest cargo aircraft. Shirak can handle IL-76 type cargo planes, and Erebuni - YAK-42 and similar small commuter aircraft. The road transportation system, which once accounted for 30 percent of all international cargo shipments to and from Armenia, now carries very little international cargo traffic. The roads that formerly connected Armenia via Georgia and Azerbaijan to NIS and European countries are cut off by the Azeri embargo and ethnic strife in Ossetia and Abkhazia - the autonomous regions of Georgia. All transportation across the Turkish border is impossible because of the aforementioned embargo by Turkey. Presently, the only cargo routes in use are those connecting Armenia with the Georgian sea ports of Batumi and Poti, and a low- capacity pontoon bridge connecting the Meghri region of Armenia (in the South) with Iran. A permanent bridge to replace the pontoon bridge is now under construction. It is hoped that the new bridge will alleviate some of Armenia's international cargo transportation needs.