Category: News

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for collective leadership to protect and nurture nature.

He made the statement at the COP17 Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan.

“This landscape, and everything in it, is a reminder of why we are here: the food we eat, the water we drink, the very air we breathe, all are the gifts of biodiversity. Yet every day, humankind saws another branch off the tree of life. Climate chaos, invasive species, overgrazing and overfishing, excessive fertilizers, pesticides, plastics, and heavy metals — all these and more are driving the triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate chaos. Over 1 million species now face the risk of extinction, edging us ever closer towards an uninhabitable world. It doesn’t have to be this way. Four years ago, in Montréal, leaders agreed on a plan: the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework laid out a path to make peace with nature. But that was just the beginning. We need more action, more speed, and more will,” Guterres said.

The UN Secretary-General noted that addressing these challenges requires the full participation of civil society, as well as increased public investment.

“We need the leadership of all. Environmental decline often falls hardest on the most vulnerable and those who did the least to cause the problem. But the solutions often arise from these same groups. For the Global Biodiversity Framework to succeed, we need partnerships like never before. And these include the innovation of young people, the energy of civil society, the participation of women, and of course the leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. By placing Indigenous knowledge at the heart of biodiversity, we can harness one of the world’s most powerful AIs: Ancestral Intelligence,” Guterres said.

Guterres added that he has 76 days remaining in his tenure as UN Secretary-General and that one of his main priorities has been combating the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

“And this is because, like many of you, I have children and grandchildren. They are counting on us to be leaders for nature,” he said.

Kazakhstan is ready to cooperate with Armenia’s COP17 presidency and international partners to turn environmental commitments into tangible results, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the COP17 Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan.

Tokayev said biodiversity sustains human well-being, economic resilience, and long-term security. Healthy ecosystems underpin food production, protect water resources, and support people’s livelihoods.

“However, desertification and water scarcity pose a serious threat to the delicate balance between nature and human beings. For millions of people, water shortages and degraded land have already become a daily reality. The most difficult consequence is that this process extends beyond borders, undermining sustainable development and threatening global stability,” Tokayev said.

He emphasized that environmental issues must take precedence over political differences and that decisions must lead to practical results. According to Tokayev, international cooperation must be friendly and unbiased and lead to tangible outcomes.

Addressing Kazakhstan’s environmental policy, the president said the country was making significant efforts to protect nature and preserve biodiversity. He described this as both a national duty and an international responsibility, noting that the commitment was also enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

“For the first time in our history, the Constitution explicitly enshrines the promotion of environmental culture as a fundamental principle of our statehood,” the Kazakh president added.

Tokayev stressed that preserving natural heritage must go hand in hand with economic progress. He also highlighted Kazakhstan’s nationwide Taza Kazakhstan, or Clean Kazakhstan, movement, saying it was becoming part of the country’s national ideology and influencing citizens’ everyday behavior.

Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan had launched an initiative to establish an International Fund for the Protection of Rare Species and Biodiversity, inviting partner countries to join the effort. He said the initiative would bring together scientific expertise, conservation partnerships, and financial support to achieve lasting results.

The president also said Kazakhstan’s National Biodiversity 10 Years Programme was designed to guide habitat restoration, species protection, and the expansion of protected areas. In addition, the country was launching a National Bank of Genetic Biodiversity.

“Protecting nature remains a responsibility we can successfully deliver only together, because the future of the planet is at stake. COP17 should take a decisive step from commitments to real results. Kazakhstan stands ready to work with the Armenian presidency and all partners to carry this momentum forward and leave a safer, more resilient, and sustainable world for future generations,” Tokayev added.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in his remarks at the COP17 Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan, said that biodiversity is no longer merely an environmental concern but a global issue.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the esteemed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Government of the Republic of Armenia, and the Armenian people for hosting COP17 and generously inviting us. The Islamic Republic of Iran was among the first countries to join the Convention on Biological Diversity, recognizing the international legal importance of this issue. However, Iran’s connection with biodiversity is not limited to our membership in an international convention. Our country is home to thousands of species. We have biodiversity in the Persian Gulf, and it is intertwined with Iran’s history. The responsibility to care for nature is an important part of the cultural, religious, and historical identity of Iranians. For Iran, protecting biodiversity is not merely a matter of conserving species and natural habitats; it is a key priority in preserving national culture and civilizational heritage. Our country has long regarded nature with reverence. Iran has a national strategy and action plan for biodiversity conservation, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Environment,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said.

The Iranian president also emphasized that wars are not only about human casualties and the targeting of infrastructure; they also destroy forests, fertile lands, wetlands, and water resources. The use of weaponry releases hazardous chemical elements and heavy metals into the natural environment, he stressed.

“The destruction of the natural environment is a direct consequence of war. This issue poses a serious threat to the well-being of future generations in our region, including Iran. The environmental consequences of military aggression require urgent security measures from the international community,” the Iranian president said.

He said that the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran is causing serious damage to the country’s ecosystems.

“We expect the international community to establish effective and transparent mechanisms to protect our natural heritage and biodiversity. No state should ever be allowed to turn nature into a silent and defenseless victim during wartime,” the Iranian president said.

Kyrgyzstan supports Armenia in creating the Yerevan Platform on Mountain and Freshwater Ecosystems, President Sadyr Japarov said at the COP17 Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan.

“To address global challenges, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation and the concerted efforts of all states. In this regard, the Kyrgyz Republic attaches particular importance to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and continues to take concrete measures toward its implementation. I would like to reaffirm Kyrgyzstan’s support for Armenia’s initiative to create the Yerevan Platform on Mountain and Freshwater Ecosystems and state that we are ready to actively engage in its work. The Kyrgyz Republic is a mountainous country known for its rich biodiversity,” Japarov said.

Yerevan will host COP17 from October 19 to 30, bringing together delegations from countries around the world and representatives of international organizations and civil society to assess progress in biodiversity conservation and discuss further joint action. Armenia holds the COP17 presidency.

Strengthening international cooperation, mobilizing resources, and exchanging experience are essential to ensuring the effective and sustainable conservation of biodiversity, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said at the COP17 Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan.

According to the Georgian prime minister, a priority until 2030 should be to translate the commitments made under the Convention on Biological Diversity into tangible and lasting achievements.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the United Nations and the Government of the Republic of Armenia for bringing us together under the theme ‘Leaders for Nature.’ This summit provides an important opportunity to reaffirm our shared responsibility and strengthen our collective commitment to protecting nature. Georgia’s natural heritage continues to play an important role in the country’s economic and social development. Healthy ecosystems and sustainable agriculture safeguard our water resources, attract visitors, and create opportunities for the growth of small businesses. Therefore, protecting them is not merely an environmental responsibility but an investment in enhancing economic competitiveness, creating jobs, and ensuring long-term prosperity. Shared ecosystems in the South Caucasus serve as a foundation for closer regional cooperation and sustainable development. Georgia is committed to working with its neighbors to protect this shared natural heritage,” Kobakhidze said.

The Georgian leader added that the summit provides an important opportunity to strengthen collective determination to achieve the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Armenian Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan on Friday denied allegations that the police had been late in responding to an Armenian woman’s call for help when an Azerbaijani serviceman had unlawfully crossed the border and entered her home.

“The police officer was off duty when the victim called his mobile phone and briefly reported the incident without providing details. The call was difficult to hear, but nevertheless, acting as a police officer should, he responded immediately and arrived at the scene in less than 10 minutes. At the police officer’s direction, the victim’s son called the 112 Emergency Management Center. Under the standardized procedure, the response team must be dispatched within 10 minutes. In this case, however, the response team was already at the scene within 10 minutes,” the minister explained.

Armenia’s National Security Service said on October 1 that it had been notified by Azerbaijani authorities on September 29 that an Azerbaijani serviceman had allegedly gone AWOL and was missing.

The Azerbaijani side did not rule out the possibility that he had crossed into Armenia.

Armenia and Azerbaijan conducted a joint search operation.

Later, on October 1, Armenian emergency services received a report that a 39-year-old Armenian woman, Ani Avetisyan, had been shot in the leg at her home in Shaki. Authorities determined that the Azerbaijani serviceman was the shooter. He was apprehended and detained shortly afterward in the settlement after fleeing the woman’s home.

Health authorities said earlier that Avetisyan was in stable, non-life-threatening condition and was receiving the necessary treatment. Her children, aged 15 and 12, who were with their mother during the incident, also sought medical assistance. The 12-year-old sustained soft-tissue bruising, while the 15-year-old sustained a fracture of the right wrist.

The Azerbaijani serviceman, Nasimi Musayev, faces charges of illegally crossing Armenia’s state border; smuggling military-use products, firearms and ammunition; illegally trafficking in firearms and ammunition; illegally entering another person’s residence against their will; and causing grievous bodily harm under aggravating circumstances, including with a firearm. He is being held in pretrial detention.

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan met with Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), in Yerevan on the sidelines of the COP17 Leaders’ Summit.

Vivien Olivier Lubczanski, Director of the International Committee of the Francophone Games (CIJF), also attended the meeting.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the main topic of the meeting was preparations for the 10th Francophone Games, which will be held in Yerevan in 2027.

Andreasyan thanked the delegation for visiting Armenia and supporting closer cooperation within the Francophonie, emphasizing Armenia’s commitment to promoting Francophone values, multilingualism, intercultural dialogue, and stronger ties among young people.

Andreasyan stressed that hosting the Games is not only a major international sporting and cultural event for Armenia but also an important opportunity to strengthen ties with the Francophone community, raise the country’s international profile, and expand long-term cooperation.

The meeting also addressed preparations for the Games, including the preparation of competition venues, cooperation with international experts, and volunteer recruitment.

Andreasyan reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to ensure that the Games are organized to a high standard and in line with international requirements, in close cooperation with the International Committee of the Francophone Games. In this context, the importance of the International Organisation of La Francophonie’s support in promoting the Games internationally, promoting the active involvement of member states and the participation of national delegations and high-ranking guests, was emphasized.

Louise Mushikiwabo thanked Andreasyan for the meeting and highly praised Armenia’s efforts to organize the 10th Francophone Games. She emphasized the importance of holding the Games in Armenia in strengthening cultural ties among Francophone countries, encouraging young people’s active participation and interaction, and promoting Francophone values. Mushikiwabo also reaffirmed the OIF’s readiness to support the successful organization of the Games.

The meeting also discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in education, youth affairs, culture, and French-language teaching. Andreasyan proposed developing joint programs both during preparations for the Games and after their conclusion to ensure continuity of cooperation.

The 10th Francophone Games will be held in Armenia from July 23 to August 1, 2027. The program includes 10 sports disciplines and 10 cultural competitions.

The loss of biodiversity, climate change, desertification, and land degradation are interconnected challenges that directly affect environmental security and countries’ development, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said at the COP17 Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan.

Berdimuhamedov emphasized the importance of long-term and effective cooperation among countries in biodiversity conservation.

“Our objectives include developing a national system of specially protected areas, environmental monitoring, and the conservation of endangered animal and plant species. An important tool for implementing biodiversity conservation efforts in Turkmenistan is the national strategy developed for 2026–2035. First and foremost, we aim to promote regional cooperation and preserve transboundary systems. At the same time, I emphasize the importance of making full use of the potential of the United Nations. We also pay particular attention to cooperation with UNESCO,” Serdar Berdimuhamedov said.

The Turkmen leader added that ensuring access to financial resources and applying modern technologies are particularly important for biodiversity conservation.

Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters in Yerevan on the sidelines of the COP17 Leaders’ Summit that Ankara wants peace, tranquility, and prosperity to be strengthened in the South Caucasus.

The minister recalled that Armenia and Türkiye had launched the process of normalizing relations in 2022, emphasizing that the process had gained new momentum in March 2026.

“The process of normalizing relations began in January 2022. Since March 2026, alongside Turkish Airlines flights, this process has gained new momentum. Therefore, the practical manifestation of this process, as well as the meetings between our esteemed president [Erdogan] and Mr. Pashinyan, continue in a way that elevates the normalization process to a higher level. Of course, as Türkiye, we want peace, tranquility, and prosperity to be strengthened in the region. And, naturally, taking into account the situation here and the existing circumstances, we continue this process. I hope that the intensification of relations between Türkiye and Armenia and the acceleration of the normalization process will lead to very important achievements for both countries and the entire region,” Yumakli said.

Speaking about COP17 in Yerevan, the Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry noted that important messages would be delivered during the conference, expressing hope that they would reach their intended recipients and be understood around the world.

“At the same time, COP31 will take place in Antalya next month. Very important messages will also be sent to the entire world there. All these are, in general, important events and important messages aimed at advancing peace, tranquility, and prosperity in the world. I wish everything to go well,” the minister concluded.

Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan met with Türkiye’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli in Yerevan on the sidelines of the Leaders’ Summit as part of COP17.

“We discussed the opportunities opening up as a result of the establishment of direct trade between Armenia and Türkiye,” Papoyan said in a statement on social media.

“We also addressed procedures for the transportation and transit of goods subject to sanitary and veterinary control. We exchanged views on a number of other issues of mutual interest related to the economic agenda,” he added.