ՏԱՎՈՒՇԻ ՄԱՐԶԻ ԳՅՈՒՂԱԿԱՆ ՏԱՐԱԲՆԱԿԵՑՄԱՆ ՇԱՐԺԸՆԹԱՑԻ ԱՐԴԻ ՄԻՏՈՒՄՆԵՐԸ ԵՎ ԱՌԿԱ ՀԻՄՆԱԽՆԴԻՐՆԵՐԸ/CURRENT TENDENCIES AND MAIN PROBLEMS OF RURAL SETTLEMENT DYNAMICS IN TAVUSH REGION

Abstract

Changes and development tendencies in settlement patterns have direct and indirect effect upon the distinct territories, regions, various economic sectors and territorial organization of the society. These changes are most uniquely manifested in mountainous countries and their individual regions, particularly in Tavush region of the Republic of Armenia. The problems of rural settlement in Tavush region became more relevant especially during the years of independence, when their development, strengthening, stabilization, overcoming socio-economic challenges became a strategic issue for the state. Following the military conflicts in 2020, enhancing the infrastructure of border territories in the Republic of Armenia, particularly the rural areas in the Tavush region, is viewed as a crucial element in fortifying the national security framework. The solution of the existing problems of the rural settlements of Tavush region depends on various factors, with particular emphasis on the development of these settlements, dynamics of rural population number and reproduction, identifying the existing problems and pointing out ways of solution. The analysis of rural settlement pattern formation and development of Tavush region is carried out in the article. The dynamics of rural settlements, population numbers, reproduction indicators, and the associated problems have been discussed. Keywords: Tavush region, rural settlement, rural population and residents, dynamic tendencies, population reproduction, problems.