On June 12, in Nice, on the margins of the Third UN Ocean Conference, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan participated and delivered remarks at the side event entitled “Blue Horizons: Advancing Ocean Action for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States”.

Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan emphasized the interlinkages between environmental challenges, highlighting the comprehensive approach to their resolution, as well as the need to ensure sufficient resources and effective mechanisms.

In his remarks, the Deputy Foreign Minister noted that landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) face limited access to open seas and maritime trade routes, which impairs their sustainable development and makes them extremely vulnerable to economic shocks. He also emphasized the unequal opportunities these countries face in utilizing marine resources.

In this context, the Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond Nations Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) in developing a more effective global governance mechanism for oceans and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of resources and benefits.

Touching upon the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) to be held in Yerevan in 2026, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan reiterated the commitment of Armenia towards ensuring an inclusive and impactful Conference. The Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of the first global review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commitments, including in the context of delivering on targets related to the preservation of marine biodiversity.