On June 18, a high-level briefing dedicated to the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be held in Yerevan in 2026, took place at the United Nations Office in Vienna. The event was organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia in Vienna. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan delivered the keynote address. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
In his remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan presented the ongoing work and initiatives being undertaken by Armenia’s COP17 Presidency, as well as organizational details related to the conference. Armenia’s readiness to ensure an inclusive and transparent conference with the full participation of all stakeholders was emphasized.
The Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the Conference will be a turning point for the first global review of progress made in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the assessment of achievements, the identification of gaps, and the addressing of challenges. It was also emphasized that discussions within the framework of the Conference will focus on possible ways to accelerate the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework in order to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan presented details of the Leaders’ Summit to be held ahead of the Conference, emphasizing the importance of providing strategic direction and political momentum at the highest level to issues related to biodiversity conservation. Participants’ attention was also drawn to the high-level ministerial segment that will follow the Summit and will facilitate the decision-making process during the Conference.
The Deputy Foreign Minister underscored the importance of ensuring the active involvement of international organizations based in Vienna in advancing the biodiversity agenda. In this context, the importance of fully utilizing the sectoral expertise and professional capacities of these organizations was highlighted, as well as the implementation of joint events and initiatives in the lead-up to and during the Conference.
In concluding remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan stated that the COP17 Conference to be held in Yerevan will serve as an important platform for the international community to move from commitments to implementation.
Addresses were also delivered during the briefing by Armenia’s Permanent Representative in Vienna Andranik Hovhannisyan, as well as senior representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the OSCE.
Ambassadors and permanent representatives accredited in Vienna, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations based in Vienna attended the event.
The briefing was followed by a question-and-answer session, during which Armenia’s efforts to organize an effective and results-oriented conference were highly appreciated.
