UN biodiversity conference COP17 officially opens in Yerevan

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) has officially opened in Yerevan. It is one of the largest international events Armenia has ever hosted.

At the plenary session Armenia's Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan was elected president of COP17 for a two-year term.

"I take on this responsibility with a commitment to serve all parties impartially, ensure that every voice is heard, and turn our collective efforts into tangible results," Matevosyan said.

The opening was preceded by a leaders' summit attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other heads of state. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told delegates about the recovery of Lake Sevan's fish stocks and progress in wildlife protection.