Category: News

A regular meeting of the Public Council adjunct to the Minister of Defense was held at the administrative complex of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia on October 28.

Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan chaired the meeting.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, the meeting discussed measures aimed at addressing a number of issues and ways to improve their effectiveness.

A fake social media account has been created in the name of Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, his spokesperson Julieta Azaryan said.

She urged the public, Yerevan Municipality employees and partners to remain vigilant, disregard messages received from the account, refrain from providing personal or banking details, avoid making any transfers and not click on suspicious links.

“The authenticity of any account claiming to represent the mayor must be verified exclusively through official sources.

“Please do not spread false information, and if you discover the fake account, report it to the relevant social media platform,” she said.

Earlier, Armenian National Assembly Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, and Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan had also warned about fake social media accounts created using their names and photographs.

Large volumes of water are being lost in Yerevan because of ageing infrastructure, Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan said during a government question-and-answer session in the National Assembly.

Hayk Farmanyan, an MP from the Strong Armenia faction, asked the deputy prime minister for an update on a promised pipeline from settlements near Hrazdan to Yerevan. The opposition MP said the chairman of the Water Committee had promised him four years earlier that such a pipeline would be built.

“The problem cannot be solved simply by bringing additional water to Yerevan. We have a deeper problem, which the Government has been working on daily with Veolia Djur for three years. It concerns reducing losses. Yerevan has a sufficiently large water supply, but losses are high because the infrastructure is worn out. The infrastructure is worn out because, back in 2016, when the water supply system was handed over to Veolia Djur, the mechanisms for investment were not clearly provided for.

“The annual investment of AMD 3.5–4 billion is insufficient to bring the infrastructure into proper condition. We are doing everything we can to ensure that at least the most urgent investments are made.

“We have available water resources in Hrazdan. We plan to invest in two phases. The first phase will bring an additional 10 million cubic metres of water to Yerevan. Continued investment will secure a further 20 million cubic metres. This work will begin in 2027,” Khachatryan said.

Climate and biodiversity change are not only serious environmental issues but also major challenges to public health.

Climate and biodiversity change affect not only the environment but also human health, leading to heat stress, deterioration in air and water quality, and changes in the risks of the spread of certain infectious diseases.

Marine Hovhannisyan, Dean of the Faculty of Public Health at Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), told Armenpress in an interview that, for Armenia, the most concerning issues include heat, drought, water scarcity, and air pollution.

Reducing the health impacts of climate and biodiversity change requires cooperation across different sectors, the integration of data, and long-term surveillance of diseases and their vectors, she said.

According to Hovhannisyan, one of the main factors affecting health as a result of climate change is heat stress. This summer, high temperatures were recorded in Europe, resulting in deaths, while the number of hospitalizations due to heat stress increased.

“In addition to heat stress, there is, of course, deterioration in air and water quality, shortages of water and food, and changes in the transmission of infections among the population. The consequences of floods and fires are also emerging,” Hovhannisyan said.

Of concern in the context of climate change is not only the exacerbation of already known diseases but also the emergence of certain infections in areas where they were previously uncommon. Hovhannisyan referred to cases of West Nile fever recorded in Armenia in 2024.

“Uncommon diseases were recorded here in 2024; we are talking about cases of West Nile fever. Around 100 cases were recorded, and there were even deaths. However, the examination of mosquitoes did not detect the pathogen in them,” she said.

According to the public health specialist, changes in climatic conditions may increase the risk of the spread of certain diseases. These include visceral leishmaniasis, leptospirosis, and tularemia.

“After floods, when water quality deteriorates, the prevalence and incidence of these diseases increase,” Hovhannisyan said.

Changes in climatic conditions affect the breeding of disease-carrying insects, the length of their active season, and their distribution. As a result, they may also appear in regions where they were previously uncommon, contributing to the emergence of various diseases.

Heatwaves and air pollution are particularly dangerous for people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, the expert said.

Dehydration in hot weather places additional strain on the cardiovascular system and can lead to a deterioration in health and hospitalization.

“People who have heart or respiratory diseases are exposed to dehydration in hot weather. The body becomes dehydrated, placing additional strain on the cardiovascular system, and this can certainly lead to a deterioration in their condition, potentially resulting in hospitalization,” she said.

According to the specialist, air pollution combined with heat causes additional harm to health. Its effects are not limited to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems; it can also affect the endocrine and nervous systems, as well as the growth and development of children and adolescents.

Addressing the consequences of biodiversity loss, Hovhannisyan noted that disruption of natural ecosystems can alter the relationships between wild animals, disease-causing pathogens, and humans.

According to her, when animal habitats disappear or shrink, animals may come closer to humans. At the same time, climate change can affect the distribution of pathogens and the organisms that transmit them.

“Biodiversity loss changes the relationships between wild animals, pathogens, and humans. For example, when habitats disappear or shrink, animals may come closer to humans. Climate can also change the distribution of pathogens and vectors,” she said, emphasizing that the nature of the impact depends on the local ecosystem and human activity.

According to the specialist, the long-term consequences of climate change may also manifest themselves through water scarcity, droughts, changes in food quality, and declining crop yields. These factors can affect people’s nutrition, immune systems, and overall health.

The health impacts of climate change do not affect everyone equally. According to Hovhannisyan, the most vulnerable groups are children, older people, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases.

“Poverty, poor housing conditions, rural isolation, and limited access to medical services increase vulnerability. As a result, risks are distributed unequally,” she said.

These circumstances are important when developing measures to prevent climate-related hazards and protect different groups of the population.

Addressing the preparedness of Armenia’s healthcare system, Marine Hovhannisyan said that the health risks associated with climate change have been clearly defined. These include heat, air and water pollution, food safety issues, and diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

At the same time, she said, identifying risks does not necessarily mean that sufficient data are available or that prevention systems are operating with the required level of effectiveness.

“Joint, long-term surveillance of diseases, vectors, and weather indicators is necessary, as is the development and active use of early response systems,” she said.

According to Hovhannisyan, it is important to study not only individual diseases but also the relationships between disease vectors and changes in weather conditions. This would make it possible to identify potential threats earlier and respond to them in a timely manner.

According to Hovhannisyan, reducing the health impacts of climate and biodiversity change requires measures aimed at reducing air pollution, ensuring water and food safety, and monitoring disease vectors and animal diseases. Training healthcare workers and protecting vulnerable groups are also important.

She said that healthcare and environmental agencies, those responsible for agriculture, and local self-government bodies should cooperate in this work by exchanging data and jointly developing measures.

Addressing the link between biodiversity conservation and the protection of human health in the framework of COP17, Hovhannisyan said that commitments undertaken through the international process should be linked to clear and measurable health targets.

According to her, it is necessary to assess the results of implemented measures in terms of reducing air pollution, detecting diseases transmitted from animals to humans at an early stage, and reducing climate-related illness and mortality.

“For Armenia, prevention is the most important priority from a public health perspective. Prevention should be based on integrating health, climate, and environmental data and identifying risks early, before they turn into a public health crisis,” the specialist said.

It will be difficult to identify threats in a timely manner without cooperation and data sharing between different sectors, the expert warned.

“No matter how much each entity carries out its work independently, if institutions operate in isolation and there is no data sharing or cooperation, there is a risk that we will fail to detect threats early and the risk will already have turned into a crisis. That is why joint work, data integration, and long-term surveillance are necessary,” Hovhannisyan concluded.

Field trips to historical and cultural monuments in Kotayk and Gegharkunik provinces were organized for participants in the “Culture and Nature” forum held within the framework of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport said in a press release that the purpose of the visits was to introduce participants to Armenia’s cultural heritage and demonstrate its connection with biodiversity, nature and environmental protection.

Delegates and participants in the “Culture and Nature” forum visited Geghard Monastery, Garni Temple and the Symphony of Stones natural monument. Near Garni Temple, the Masunk traditional song and dance ensemble performed traditional songs and dances expressing the Armenian people’s cultural ties with nature.

An exhibition and sale of local products were also organized, with the participation of the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts, the Teryan Cultural Center, local producers and artisans.

Participants then visited the Norashen Reserve in Sevan National Park, where they learned about the biological significance of Lake Sevan and the area’s rich biodiversity. At the Sevan Botanical Garden, guests were introduced to plant species growing in the area and adapted to local conditions, including species listed in Armenia’s Red Book.

At the pavilion area in the city of Sevan, the delegates had the opportunity to discover the works and products of local creators. The Armenian Cookery Traditions Development and Protection NGO presented Armenia’s culinary heritage through a demonstration of how a traditional dish is prepared. The program continued at the Sevan Cultural Center with a screening of the documentary film “People of the Lake: Sevan’s Fishermen.”

Filmed by the Sevan Youth Club NGO with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia, the documentary explores Sevan’s fishing culture, fishermen’s memories and their connection to the lake. The screening was followed by a discussion with the film’s subjects, Sevan’s fishermen, and concluded with a concert by the GAMMA Band.

The day’s cultural program continued at the Bohem art studio and tea house, where guests were served “Sevan tea,” made from local plant species, and took part in a creative workshop.

Armenia is presenting four initiatives under its COP17 Presidency aimed at helping countries translate global biodiversity conservation goals into practical action.

The initiatives focus on strengthening biodiversity monitoring systems, conserving mountain and freshwater ecosystems, promoting effective conservation measures outside protected areas, and developing economic incentives that benefit biodiversity.

Speaking to Armenpress, Voskehat Grigoryan, Head of the Department for Specially Protected Areas of Nature and Biodiversity Policy at Armenia’s Ministry of Environment, said that water, agriculture, health, community well-being and other important sectors depend on biodiversity.

Conserving biodiversity and ecosystems is essential to ensuring quality of life, she said. 

Effective conservation requires reliable data, assessments of valuable ecosystems, professional capacity and appropriate economic decisions.

First initiative: Yerevan Tech for Biodiversity Monitoring Hub

“To make decisions aimed at conserving biodiversity, we need to know the condition of our ecosystems, how species populations are changing and where intervention is needed. This platform will help countries benefit from expert support, satellite observations and new tools for data collection and analysis. For countries around the world, including Armenia, it offers an opportunity to strengthen monitoring and make better-informed decisions. In 2022, in Kunming and Montreal, the world adopted four goals and 23 targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The Yerevan conference is taking place halfway along that path. The time for new commitments has passed; now we must deliver results, and we must do so faster. This is the meaning of our motto, ‘Taking Action for Nature,’” she said.

Grigoryan said that the first global review of collective progress provides a clear picture of where the world stands. It draws on national reports submitted by 129 Parties to the Convention, representing two-thirds of the Parties; national targets submitted by 162 Parties, representing more than 80% of the Parties; and updated national biodiversity strategies and action plans submitted by 89 Parties, representing nearly half of the Parties. According to her, the findings show that the world is not on track to achieve the goals.

“The review also tells us something about our own tools. Many countries still lack well-coordinated monitoring systems and infrastructure to generate, manage and report reliable data. The global report and the analysis of the seventh national reports reveal significant data gaps. And what cannot be measured cannot be accounted for or corrected. Armenia is familiar with this problem from its own experience. Our national monitoring system remains fragmented, and consolidating data is one of our priorities. Many Parties, large and small, face the same challenge. This is precisely why the COP17 Presidency has developed the Yerevan Technology Platform for Biodiversity Monitoring Hub, in coordination with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and under the joint leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has three components: cooperation among institutions responsible for indicators, accompanied by a support package; a program to strengthen countries’ capacity to support monitoring; and access to technologies and innovations, including Earth observation, ecosystem mapping, assessments of species extinction risk and genetic diversity, environmental DNA, bioacoustics, and artificial intelligence-assisted data integration, presented in a format that countries can apply in practice,” Grigoryan said.

Second initiative: Yerevan Platform on Mountains and Related Freshwater Ecosystems

Grigoryan noted that changes in mountain areas affect rivers, lakes, water availability and people’s livelihoods. For Armenia, this connection is clearly illustrated by Lake Sevan and mountain water systems. The platform is intended to facilitate the exchange of experience, provide technical support and connect countries with relevant partners and funding opportunities.

“This flagship initiative has personal significance for each of us, because our villages, monasteries, pastures and entire history have been shaped by mountain ecosystems. Healthy mountain ecosystems are essential for biodiversity, water security, agriculture and human well-being. Therefore, conserving mountains and related freshwater ecosystems is a shared priority that requires stronger cooperation among countries and across sectors. Worldwide, mountains support the livelihoods of around 1.2 billion people. They supply more than half of the world’s freshwater flows, encompass 25 of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots, and are home to 85% of amphibian, bird and mammal species,” she said.

Grigoryan emphasized that mountains are nature’s water reservoirs for humanity. Therefore, conserving mountains and related freshwater ecosystems is a shared priority that requires stronger cooperation among countries and across sectors.

The initiative will deliver two outcomes: bringing mountain countries together to coordinate their work regularly at the highest level, and supporting countries in incorporating mountains and freshwater ecosystems into biodiversity strategies, climate plans and national planning priorities.

“Our ambition is to ensure strong and practical coordination within the framework of work that has already been agreed,” the department head said.

Third initiative: Global OECM Action Hub

According to Voskehat Grigoryan, through this initiative Armenia aims to help countries and organizations come together around practical solutions that can support implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The global ambition to conserve at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, marine and coastal areas by 2030 is important and necessary. However, achieving this target is not simply about increasing the area under conservation. It is about ensuring that these areas deliver significant and lasting results for biodiversity.

“Protected areas play a fundamental role in this effort. But we also recognize that important conservation outcomes can be achieved beyond their boundaries. Around the world, there are forests, agricultural landscapes, fishing grounds and other areas where biodiversity is effectively conserved, even though conservation may not be their primary management objective. Other effective area-based conservation measures, or OECMs, make it possible to recognize this contribution when it meets internationally agreed criteria. However, identifying and assessing such areas is not always straightforward. Many countries still face technical and institutional difficulties. Interpretations and applications of existing criteria may differ, while access to the necessary knowledge, guidance and expert support remains uneven. At the same time, international organizations, scientific institutions and practitioners working in this field have already accumulated considerable experience. We need to bring this knowledge together, make it more accessible and help countries apply it consistently. This is precisely why the COP17 Presidency has launched the Global OECM Action Hub initiative,” she said.

According to Grigoryan, the aim is not to establish new standards or duplicate ongoing work, but to strengthen coordination, build on existing expertise and support the consistent application of criteria agreed under the Convention.

The initiative will operate under the leadership of the COP17 Presidency, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Fourth initiative: Yerevan Call on Incentives Positive to Biodiversity and launch of the Friends of Target 18

“Positive incentives for biodiversity shape decisions across all sectors of our economies. They affect how natural resources are used, how goods are produced and consumed, and where public and private investments are directed. Aligning incentives with biodiversity goals can therefore benefit not only nature but also sustainable development, food and water security, climate resilience, livelihoods and long-term economic stability. At the same time, incentive reform is a complex and sensitive process. Incentives are closely linked to national economic and social priorities and can affect sectors and communities in different ways. Reforms must therefore be carefully assessed, determined at the national level, socially responsible and tailored to each country’s circumstances. There can be no single model for all countries,” Grigoryan said.

According to her, progress requires national leadership and responsibility, coordinated work across government, a reliable evidence base and international cooperation. It is with this understanding that the COP17 Presidency is launching the flagship initiative.

The initiative was developed in close cooperation with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, with the support and involvement of pioneering countries. It brings together three mutually reinforcing elements.

“The first is the Yerevan Call on Incentives Positive to Biodiversity, which sends a political signal in support of accelerated, equitable action tailored to national circumstances to advance Target 18. The second is the Friends of Target 18 group, envisioned as a voluntary, Party-led platform to maintain political momentum, exchange national experiences, share practical solutions and promote cooperation beyond COP17. The third is the Yerevan Biodiversity Finance Challenge, which aims to translate political commitments into action at the country level, including through incentive assessment and reform, biodiversity budgeting and biodiversity finance planning,” the official said.

She emphasized that these elements are intended to bring environment ministries together with ministries of finance, agriculture, economy and development. The initiative also seeks to engage central banks and financial supervisory authorities, banks, private financial institutions and businesses, philanthropic organizations and civil society.

“The initiatives are designed for sustained work. After COP17, their governance and working mechanisms are expected to be put in place, plans developed, and technical and policy dialogues organized. Support tailored to countries’ needs will begin on the basis of available partners and resources. Progress will be monitored through national reports and the initiatives’ work plans, and the results are also expected to be presented at COP18. It is important to us that the cooperation established at the conference continues and delivers measurable results,” Grigoryan concluded.

COP17 President, Armenia’s Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan has met with Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of the State of Qatar.

“We discussed prospects for advancing bilateral environmental relations between Armenia and Qatar, exploring opportunities for cooperation in biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management, and addressing climate change,” Matevosyan said on social media.

“The second part of our meeting focused on ministerial negotiations at the upcoming COP17 in Armenia and Qatar’s active engagement in that process. We emphasized the importance of ministerial dialogue and coordinated efforts to translate biodiversity conservation commitments into tangible results,” he added.

COP17 President and Armenia’s Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan met with Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment of Nigeria.

“We discussed opportunities to expand bilateral environmental cooperation between Armenia and Nigeria and exchange experience, particularly in waste management and the reduction of plastic pollution. We also discussed ministerial negotiations under COP17, emphasizing the importance of Nigeria’s active engagement, constructive dialogue and joint efforts to translate global biodiversity commitments into tangible results,” Matevosyan said on social media.

Armenia and Georgia are cooperating, with the support of the OSCE, on assessing and preventing cross-border forest fire risks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Robert Abisoghomonyan said during an event titled “Strengthening Ecosystems, Securing the Future: Cross-Border Cooperation between Armenia and Georgia,” held on the sidelines of COP17.

He said that Armenia and Georgia are friendly and brotherly countries with a long history of cooperation in connectivity, sustainable development, and environmental protection.

“Forest fires are a clear example of a challenge that recognizes no state borders. Addressing such risks requires information sharing, coordination of preparedness, and the pooling of efforts by relevant institutions operating on both sides of the border. This is precisely what Armenia and Georgia are doing with the support of the OSCE,” Abisoghomonyan said.

He said that environmental cooperation between Armenia and Georgia is an important component of bilateral relations, and its significance lies not only in addressing specific risks but also in bringing together institutions, experts, and communities around shared priorities.

“This is an important aspect of our strategic partnership. It demonstrates how bilateral relations can bring tangible benefits to people, especially those living in border regions, whose livelihoods and well-being depend on the sustainable management of natural resources,” he said, adding that implementing the global biodiversity framework requires approaches that take into account the environmental and geographical characteristics of each region.

Karlo Amirgulashvili, Head of the Forest Policy Department at Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, described forest fires as a serious challenge for Georgia and the entire region.

“We are all committed to taking the necessary steps to address their causes and consequences,” he said, emphasizing that the measures being implemented not only contribute to forest fire management but also provide an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Armenia and Georgia.

COP17 President and Armenian Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan met with Katrin Schneeberger, State Secretary and Director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.

“I expressed my gratitude for the continued support provided to Armenia’s environmental sector, emphasizing the role of the FORACCA program in sustainable forest management, enhancing resilience to climate change, and improving living conditions in rural communities,” the Armenian Minister of Environment said on social media.

The meeting also addressed cooperation within the framework of COP17. Matevosyan emphasized the need to translate global commitments to biodiversity conservation into tangible and measurable results on the ground.