Statement by H.E. Mr.Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN at the 'Resilience, Biodiversity and Partnerships: SIDS on the Road to[...]

Excellencies,

Distinguished colleagues,

Dear friends,

At the outset, allow me to warmly congratulate all Small Island Developing States on the occasion of the International Day of SIDS, marked on Saturday, 25 April. The celebrations began with the wonderful reception hosted on Friday by Permanent Representative of Palau, in her capacity as Chair of AOSIS. It was a truly memorable evening, where we had the pleasure of experiencing the rich diversity of SIDS through their vibrant cultural traditions, cuisine, music and dance-an inspiring reminder of the unique heritage and resilience of SIDS communities.

Today, we gather for what is indeed a historic moment-the first-ever celebration of this International Day. This International Day, proclaimed last year by UNESCO at the initiative of Armenia, reflects our shared commitment to place the priorities and vulnerabilities of SIDS on the global agenda. Supported by 130 Member States, this achievement sends a clear and powerful message: the international community stands in solidarity with SIDS.

This Day serves as an important reminder that SIDS represent a special case for sustainable development-countries that are at once custodians of vast marine ecosystems and among the most exposed to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Our discussion today is particularly timely as we look ahead to the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity-COP17-to be held in Yerevan. As incoming President of COP17, Armenia is committed to ensuring that the priorities of SIDS-particularly on biodiversity finance, resilience and ocean ecosystems-are meaningfully reflected in both the process and its outcomes.

SIDS today face a convergence of structural challenges. They are on the frontlines of sea-level rise, ecosystem degradation and extreme weather events, while also experiencing high economic vulnerability, debt pressures and limited diversification. At the same time, they manage a significant share of the world's ocean space and biodiversity, making their success critical to global environmental outcomes.

Small island developing States continue to demonstrate principled and determined leadership in advancing an ambitious, equitable and science-based global climate agenda. Their advocacy has been instrumental not only in shaping collective action, but also in advancing international law. The recent Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on climate change stands as a landmark achievement in this regard-reflecting the clarity of vision and unity that SIDS consistently bring to multilateral processes.

A key priority for SIDS remains means of implementation. It is essential to mobilize greater attention to their challenges-not only economic and environmental pressures, but also the erosion of traditions, languages and ways of life tied to coastal and marine ecosystems.

In parallel, there is a growing recognition of the need to better integrate biodiversity, climate and development agendas. Initiatives such as the SIDS Coalition for Nature underscore the importance of bridging gaps in finance, knowledge and implementation through stronger partnerships and more coordinated support.

In this context, today's roundtable aims to elevate SIDS perspectives within the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and to explore how its targets-on conservation, sustainable use and biodiversity finance-can be translated into concrete, country-level action.

Armenia, as a landlocked developing country, understands what it means to face structural constraints that others may not. That sense of shared vulnerability, and the need for coordinated responsibility to act, is what drives our solidarity with SIDS. For us, this is not only a matter of principle-it is also a matter of partnership.

Dear friends,

We must not allow this International Day to remain merely symbolic. It should serve as a catalyst-to mobilize attention, to strengthen partnerships, and to ensure that solidarity with SIDS is measured not only in declarations, but in concrete results.

As we move toward COP17 in Yerevan, we are committed to working closely with all of you to ensure that the priorities of SIDS are fully reflected in global biodiversity processes, and that outcomes are practical, inclusive and impactful.

Finally, today is also an opportunity not only to reflect on challenges, but to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of SIDS. They are stewards of vast ocean spaces. They are leaders in climate action. And they are guardians of rich cultural traditions that connect people, nature and heritage in profound ways.

I hope that today's discussion will help identify actionable priorities, strengthen partnerships, and build momentum toward COP17-so that together, we can deliver meaningful results for SIDS and for our shared global future.

I thank you.