ArmInfo. The famous British magazine ''The Economist'' called Armenia the "Country of the Year."
As The Economist article notes the annual "country of the year" award goes not to the most influential nation, nor to the richest, nor to the one with the tastiest food. It celebrates progress. Which country has improved the most in the past 12 months? Yet in Armenia that is exactly what seems to have happened. The president, Serzh Sargsyan, tried to dodge term limits by making himself into an executive prime minister. The streets erupted in protest. Nikol Pashinyan, a charismatic and bearded former journalist and MP, was swept into power, legally and properly, on a wave of revulsion against corruption and incompetence. His new party alliance won 70% of the vote in a subsequent election. A Putinesque potentate was ejected, and no one was killed. Russia was given no excuse to interfere. A note of caution: Armenia's nasty territorial dispute with Azerbaijan has not been resolved and could ignite again. However, an ancient and often misruled nation in a turbulent region has a chance of democracy and renewal. For that reason, Armenia is our country of the year. Shnorhavorum yem!'' The last word is written in Armenian in English transcription, which means - Congratulations !, Ed. note).