The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia participated in the high-level briefing dedicated to the COP17 on Biodiversity at UNESCO Headquarters

On June 24, a high-level briefing dedicated to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be held in Yerevan in 2026, was convened at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The event was organized by the Permanent Mission of Armenia in UNESCO. During the event, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan delivered the keynote address.

In his remarks, the Deputy Foreign Minister presented the vision of the Presidency of Armenia for COP17 on Biodiversity, reaffirming the commitment of Armenia to upholding the principles of inclusivity, transparency and open dialogue throughout the organization of the Conference.

Robert Abisoghomyan underscored the pivotal importance of COP17 in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) particularly within the context of the first Global Review of progress. Robert Abisoghomonyan noted that the Conference will serve as a crucial platform to assess achievements, identify existing gaps and challenges and delineate additional efforts required to achieve the global targets by 2030.

The briefing provided an overview of the preparatory work and organizational arrangements for COP17. The Deputy Foreign Minister drew the attention of participants to the Leaders' Summit and the High-Level Ministerial Segment envisioned within the framework of the Conference, emphasizing the importance of ensuring high-level participation and achieving tangible and practical outcomes.

In his remarks, Robert Abisoghomonyan also touched upon the essential role of UNESCO in the conservation, as well as the sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity, emphasizing the necessity of fully leveraging the organization's multidisciplinary potential in education, science and culture.

The Deputy Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of the active engagement of UNESCO in promoting biodiversity education and in shaping key narratives regarding the interlinkage between nature and culture. In this context, particular emphasis was placed on the thematic events planned for COP17, specifically the thematic "Education Day" and the "Nature and Culture" thematic summit.

Concluding, the Deputy Foreign Minister reaffirmed that the upcoming COP17 in Yerevan represents a vital opportunity for the international community to advance from commitments to implementation.

The briefing also featured remarks by the Permanent Representative of Armenia to UNESCO Aram Hakobyan and senior UNESCO officials. The event was attended by permanent representatives and diplomats accredited to UNESCO.