Official: Armenia planning to use its representation at COP17 to  foster international cooperation on ocean conservation

ArmInfo. Armenia is planning to use its representation at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) to foster  international cooperation on ocean conservation and biodiversity  preservation, as stated by Armenian Minister of Environment  Hambardzun Matevosyan during his speech at the high-level Sustainable  Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue in Seoul.

According to the press service of the Armenian Ministry of  Environment, Matevosyan noted that despite Armenia's landlocked  status, the future of the world's oceans is the shared responsibility  of all states, as joint cooperation directly impacts climate, water  resources, ecosystem resilience, and the well-being of its  population. Matevosyan outlined the priorities of Armenia's COP17  Presidency, emphasizing the need to strengthen synergies between the  Convention on Biological Diversity and the Biodiversity Areas Beyond  National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, which entered into force in  2026. He noted that the COP17 conference, to be held in Yerevan in  October, will be the first platform for a comprehensive assessment of  progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity  Framework.

The Armenian Minister of Environment cited the development of marine  protected areas, the coordination of international efforts to  conserve marine genetic resources, as well as expanding scientific  cooperation, innovation, and improving the availability of  environmental data as priorities.

According to the official, Armenia intends to continue promoting  science-based solutions, the ecosystem approach, and multilateral  partnerships under the motto of its COP17 Presidency: "Acting for  Nature."