Within the framework of the high-level international conference on glacier preservation, held in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Ara Mkrtchyan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, held an official meeting with Bahodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the significance of the environmental partnership established between Armenia and Tajikistan.
The parties held a detailed discussion on opportunities to expand cooperation, particularly in the areas of atmospheric monitoring, water resource management, enhancing climate resilience, and the introduction of innovative environmental technologies.
Special attention was given to the cooperation between the "Environmental Project Implementation Unit" SA of the Ministry of Environment of the RA and the Center for Implementation of Investment Projects within the Committee for Environmental Protection under the government of the Republic of Tajikistan. The role of the Armenian State Agency—as an accredited entity with direct access to the Adaptation Fund—in supporting the Center’s accreditation process was particularly emphasized.
Mr. Sheralizoda highly valued the ongoing cooperation, emphasizing the importance of its continuation and further strengthening. He expressed hope that by the end of 2025, it will be possible to achieve a key outcome in this area of collaboration—the accreditation of the Center to the Adaptation Fund.
In response, Deputy Minister Ara Mkrtchyan emphasized the importance of strengthening the institutional foundations of cooperation between the two entities. He proposed enhancing collaboration in the development of joint programs, data sharing, and exchange of experience—particularly following the successful completion of the accreditation process.
At the end of the meeting, Deputy Minister Ara Mkrtchyan extended an official invitation to Mr. Sheralizoda to participate in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be held in Armenia in 2026. The significance of the conference as a platform for promoting global cooperation in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, glacier preservation, and biodiversity loss was underscored.