Armenia’s Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan has been elected president of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). He announced the news on his Facebook page.
“The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) has officially begun its work in Yerevan.
“Today, at the opening plenary session of the conference, I was elected president of COP17, assuming the great honor and responsibility of leading the international community’s collective efforts.
“I am grateful to the Parties to the Convention for the trust they have placed in Armenia and in me. I undertake this responsibility with a commitment to serving all Parties impartially, ensuring that every voice is heard, and transforming our collective efforts into tangible results,” he wrote.
In his opening address, the minister emphasized that the conference in Yerevan provides a unique opportunity to assess the progress achieved in biodiversity conservation and agree on concrete next steps. He stressed that efforts must be accelerated to achieve the targets set for 2030, turning commitments into real change.
He added that Armenia’s presidency would be guided by the principles of open dialogue, inclusiveness and mutual respect.
“Our task is to bridge differences, build consensus and ensure everyone’s participation, from governments to young people, from the scientific community to the private sector.
“Let Yerevan become the place where shared commitments are transformed into joint action for nature and for present and future generations,” Matevosyan wrote.
On the evening of October 18, the official opening ceremony of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) took place at the Meridian Center in Yerevan. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the ceremony and delivered an address. In his remarks, he said Armenia views its COP17 presidency as an opportunity to unite the efforts of the international community and channel them toward practical and tangible results.
