3 minute read
A high-level briefing organized by the Permanent Representation of Armenia to UNESCO was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris and was dedicated to the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), which will take place in Yerevan in 2026.
Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan delivered the keynote speech at the event, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
In his remarks, the Deputy Foreign Minister presented Armenia’s vision for its COP17 presidency, reaffirming the country’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and open dialogue throughout the organization of the conference.
He emphasized the key importance of COP17 in advancing the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly in the context of the first global review of collective progress. He noted that the conference will provide an opportunity to assess achievements, existing gaps, and challenges, as well as to outline additional efforts needed to reach global targets set for 2030.
The preparations and organizational aspects of COP17 were also presented. The Deputy Foreign Minister highlighted the Leaders’ Summit and the High-Level Ministerial Segment that will take place within the framework of the conference, stressing the importance of ensuring high-level participation and achieving concrete results.
Deputy FM Abisoghomonyan also addressed UNESCO’s important role in biodiversity conservation and its sustainable and equitable use, highlighting the need to fully utilize the organization’s multidisciplinary potential in education, science, and culture.
He stressed UNESCO’s active involvement in promoting biodiversity education and in shaping key messages on the interconnection between nature and culture. In this context, he highlighted thematic events planned during COP17, including an “Education Day” and a “Nature and Culture” thematic summit.
Concluding his remarks, he reaffirmed that COP17 in Yerevan will be an important opportunity for the international community to move from commitments to implementation.
The briefing also featured speeches by Armenia’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Aram Hakobyan, and senior UNESCO officials. The event was attended by accredited permanent representatives and diplomats to UNESCO.