On June 18, at the UN Office at Vienna, a high-level briefing organized by the Permanent Mission of Armenia in Vienna commenced, dedicated to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) to be held in Yerevan in 2026. At the event, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan delivered the keynote address.

In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Abisoghomonyan presented the ongoing preparatory work and initiatives undertaken by the Armenian Presidency of the Biodiversity COP17, alongside key organizational details. The willingness of Armenia to ensure the hosting of an inclusive and transparent Conference with meaningful engagement of all stakeholders was emphasized.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia noted that COP17 will be pivotal for the first Global Review of progress in implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the assessment of achievements, the identification of gaps and the addressing of challenges. It was emphasized that discussions within the framework of the Conference will also center on potential avenues for promoting the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework in order to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan detailed the forthcoming Leaders' Summit to be held ahead of the Conference, highlighting the importance of imparting strategic direction and political momentum at the highest level to issues on biodiversity conservation. The Deputy Minister drew the attention of the attendees to the High-level Ministerial Segment following the Summit, which will facilitate the decision-making process during the COP17.

The Deputy Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of ensuring the active involvement of Vienna-based international organizations in advancing the biodiversity agenda. In this vein, the imperative of leveraging the sectoral, expert and professional capacities of these organizations was emphasized, along with the implementation of joint events and initiatives both in the lead-up to and within the framework of the Conference.

In conclusion, Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan noted that the COP17 to be held in Yerevan will serve as a crucial platform for the international community to advance from commitments to implementation.

At the briefing remarks were also delivered by the Permanent Representative of Armenia in Vienna, Andranik Hovhannisyan, as well as high-ranking 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.

The event was attended by ambassadors and permanent representatives accredited in Vienna, diplomats and representatives of Vienna-based international organizations.

The briefing was followed by a Q&A session, during which the efforts of Armenia in organizing an effective and results-oriented conference were highly commended.