ArmInfo. Within the framework of the 16th session of the Conference to Combat Desertification, held in Saudi Arabia, Germany confirmed its willingness to assist Armenia in organizing the Conference on Biological Diversity (COP17). This was stated by Niels Annen, the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany, at a meeting with Hakob Simidyan, the Minister of Environment. After thanking the German side for their willingness to provide support, the Minister emphasized: "Holding COP17 in Armenia is a pivotal moment for us, and we want to organize it properly. Therefore, it is important to exchange experiences with the German side on ensuring the participation of different countries in the forum, as well as the proper engagement of youth and women." He also pointed out the effective high-level cooperation between the two countries with an expanded agenda that goes beyond environmental protection.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed ongoing environmental projects, including the "Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development in Armenia" program, implemented with financial support from Germany with a budget of 26.2 million euros. According to the source, the program includes two components that are a priority within the COP17 agenda: biodiversity and conservation, as well as the management of specially protected natural areas, forest conservation and sustainable management. The parties also agreed to continue enhancing existing cooperation during the meeting.