Ara Mkrtchyan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, participated in the high-level meeting and delivered a speech during the panel discussion. He presented Armenia's experience in using digital tools for biodiversity conservation and invited participants to the #COP17, scheduled to be held in Armenia in October 2026.
As the National Coordinator of the Convention, he highlighted the work carried out in Armenia to ensure access to environmental information, public participation, and access to justice. He mentioned the existing and improving mechanisms that promote more effective public engagement, citing, for example, the clarified procedures for the formation and activities of the Public Council and the Youth Council under the Ministry of Environment of the RA.
Deputy Minister Mkrtchyan emphasized that the cooperation strengthened through the memorandum with the Academy of Justice will provide new momentum for capacity-building in this area and raising awareness about environmental conventions.
During the meeting, the election of the Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders took place, and Michel Forst was re-elected. He plans to visit Armenia in 2026. Additionally, three new members were elected to the Compliance Committee, including the candidate nominated by Armenia, Dr. Olympia Geghamyan, Head of YSU Scientific and Educational Center of Environmental Law named after Aida Iskoyan.