Category: News

Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala believes countries already have an initial global imperative and recognise the need to accelerate action to achieve the environmental goals jointly agreed in the Montreal Declaration.

Below is Sari Multala’s full interview with correspondents from Armenpress and Armenian Public Television.

Minister, how do you assess the progress of the COP17 international biodiversity conference?

I really must thank the Armenian authorities for organising and hosting this event. Hosting UN meetings always requires considerable effort and preparation. I have also heard that extensive work has been undertaken to build capacity, drawing on experience from previous events.

Conducting the negotiations is also a major responsibility, and everything seems to be going very well so far. I am very happy to be here. I have never been here before, so everything looks very beautiful, and the hospitality is simply wonderful. I am glad to be here and hope the negotiations will also proceed smoothly. In short, everything has been excellent so far.

You attended a very important event during COP17: the meeting of environment ministers. What were the main messages at that meeting?

Of course, we speak on behalf of our countries, and since Finland is a member of the European Union, we naturally align ourselves with the other EU countries’ position. Our message, however, is to accelerate action, which is essentially the main message of the entire COP.

We already have an initial global imperative and know that we need to accelerate action to achieve the environmental goals jointly agreed in the Montreal Declaration. We therefore support this, as well as the view that financing opportunities need to be broadened.

We noted that Finland has successful examples of lending to address nature-related challenges, demonstrating how the private sector can be involved alongside the public sector in important projects supporting nature conservation. This was our main emphasis during that discussion.

We also stressed the need to create positive incentives for action to protect nature and to eliminate existing negative factors. I think both are necessary, as is action at the global level. These were the main messages we conveyed to our counterparts.

How are you addressing challenges in Finland? What insights from your experience could you share with your Armenian counterparts?

There are several steps we are taking. As in other countries, we undertake nature conservation, but we also take action that benefits nature: we try to help restore it to its original state. We do this through practical work in nature, such as targeted restoration measures.

There are also smaller-scale actions, such as planting flowers or other plants that can benefit pollinating insects. There are therefore different types of action, but I think the key to success is the effective cooperation established between the public sector, landowners, including private owners, and other competent authorities. That is the main factor.

We have the public trust needed to take these actions forward. One longstanding problem is eutrophication in our marine areas: the enrichment of bodies of water with nutrients. We have launched a long-term programme involving landowners, farmers, public authorities, private companies and local residents.

We are trying to find solutions that benefit everyone, including nature and the stakeholders involved. I think this form of cooperation can help resolve complex problems. Questions of who should pay and who should do what are important, because success requires close cooperation and trust between the various actors.

What practical benefits and gains do you think COP17 can bring in terms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation?

All UN meetings are extremely important at a time when there are several conflicts around the world. I think it is important that we continue talking and try to find common solutions. Nature is something that every nation, every person and every living being on Earth needs.

I therefore think we are here with a long-term perspective, thinking about the planet’s long-term viability. That is why it is so important to find common solutions and understand how we can move closer to our goals, which, incidentally, are already very, very close.

Even if we do not achieve them fully by 2030, we must continue working towards them. We need to ensure that mechanisms remain in place beyond 2030 so that we can continue in the same direction and address nature-related challenges. Clearly, the world has already agreed on ambitious biodiversity goals.

But implementing solutions remains a major challenge, does it not?

It really is a major challenge. We have several mechanisms through which we can address it. We can apply local solutions, but we also need a multilateral approach.

We have already agreed on the goal, so now we must move to practical action. There are several aspects to this issue, all of which are currently on the negotiating table. I hope we can move forward and find common solutions acceptable to all parties.

Protecting biodiversity requires substantial, sustained financing. What is the European Union prepared to do to help close the global biodiversity funding gap, particularly for countries with limited resources?

As I mentioned, the European Union is one of the largest donors of biodiversity funding, and we want to continue this work and broaden the funding base. I also spoke about the private sector, so we need to involve it.

We are having productive discussions here about how to create credible international markets for nature credits that could be developed in more countries and continents. I think this is a promising step.

We also need mechanisms to ensure that funding reaches its intended destination and delivers measurable results. Transparency is, of course, important so that we can be sure funding is provided openly and transparently and ultimately produces tangible results.

What are your impressions of Yerevan? Are you planning to visit the capital’s sights?

Yesterday, I did find a little time to explore the city. I could not find the place by the river that I wanted to reach, but we had a meal at a very good riverside restaurant. The food was simply excellent.

Yerevan is quite a lively city, and the people are certainly very welcoming. The hospitality in Armenia is truly wonderful. I hope I will also have an opportunity to see Mount Ararat, but it is still cloudy. I have heard that when it is visible, the view is truly magnificent and breathtaking. In any case, I have very much enjoyed being here so far.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the 27th Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development award ceremony, organised in Yerevan by the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND).

“It is symbolic that this award ceremony is taking place in the context of COP17, currently being held in Armenia. Today, as the world faces interconnected economic, social and environmental challenges, initiatives such as this are becoming increasingly important. They demonstrate that the true value of development is measured not only by economic indicators but also by people’s quality of life and confidence in the future.

“I would like to emphasise that this year’s awards are dedicated to the goal of ‘Affordable and Clean Energy’. This conveys the message that people’s well-being and environmental protection are interconnected. Lasting progress is possible only by pursuing both together.

“Our task is to ensure that the energy transition not only strengthens economic security but also creates new opportunities for development, making its benefits accessible to all sections of society. Armenia values the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, convinced that today’s progress must go hand in hand with responsibility towards future generations. This important responsibility obliges us to take joint, consistent action to address climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution,” Pashinyan said.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Queen Sofía of Spain travelled to Armenia to attend the ceremony.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with a delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan welcomed Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud’s visit to Armenia and emphasized the importance of holding this year’s award ceremony for the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development in Armenia.

“This is very good and pleasant news for us. We know that it is a very prestigious award, and I will also attend the ceremony tonight, which is a great honor for me. As you know, COP17 is underway in Armenia. Biodiversity and sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important for all of us. I hope that through international cooperation, we will be able to find a solution to this global problem. Welcome. I would like to hear your impressions and your assessment of the current situation,” Pashinyan said.

The Saudi prince thanked his hosts for their warm welcome and said:

“This is my second visit to Armenia in the past two years. Honestly, every time I visit Armenia, I want to come back again. I am trying to arrange for my wife and family to visit Armenia as well, not just to get to know the country, its wonderful culture and centuries-old history, but also to identify projects that we can implement jointly in Armenia. Of course, holding the award ceremony for the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development in Armenia is very important to us. Over the past years, Armenia has gone through many stages, and today we are impressed to see how far it has come. Holding COP17 here is also very important.”

Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud then spoke about the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development and the objectives of the award.

The sides discussed prospects for further developing Armenia-Saudi Arabia relations. They stressed the importance of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and expressed confidence that this would give fresh impetus to cooperation across various sectors and the expansion of bilateral ties. They also exchanged views on opportunities to implement investment projects in Armenia.

Pashinyan and Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud also addressed issues of regional significance. Both sides emphasized the importance of the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and strengthening stability in the region.

The 2025 Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development award ceremony was held in Yerevan under the theme “Affordable and Clean Energy”.

The event took place under the high patronage of Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan and was presided over by Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND). The awards recognise innovative projects promoting sustainable human development, expanding access to clean energy and improving communities’ living conditions.

Participants included His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud, Chairman of AGFUND’s Board of Directors and the Prize Committee; Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain, a member of the Prize Committee; Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan; and other distinguished guests.

In his remarks, Pashinyan highlighted the significance of holding the event in Armenia, particularly as Yerevan hosts the COP17 international biodiversity conference.

His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud said the world was facing extraordinary challenges. Conflicts, instability and humanitarian crisis continued to have a devastating impact on millions of lives.

“Since the beginning of 2026, both the states of the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf countries have faced serious attacks on their territories. Saudi Arabia continues to face this to this day. Nevertheless, despite these circumstances, the Gulf countries remain committed to promoting development and investment, both for their own people and for nations around the world. Over the decades, our countries have established institutions, expanded opportunities and supported development far beyond their borders,” the Saudi prince said.

He added that their commitment to humanity’s future did not end at their borders or cease when their own security was threatened.

“We are determined to build a better future for our peoples while standing alongside others in achieving goals and creating opportunities. Development cannot wait until the world is at peace. Through cooperation and investment in human progress, we will create the conditions necessary for lasting peace. Circumstances may change, but our responsibility does not.

“That is why we are here in Armenia. It is a great honour to be in a country whose history, culture and stability command respect far beyond its borders. Armenia has given the world distinguished poets and thinkers,” Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud said.

He said a person’s legacy was understood to be defined not by words or wishes, but by what they built for others and the opportunities they left behind. He stressed that, for Prince Talal, this was more than a conviction: it was a guiding principle for a meaningful life. Prince Talal translated that belief into institutions that continue to serve people around the world, including through AGFUND.

“The mission has remained the same: to recognise achievements in development, turn progressive ideas into lasting solutions and expand their impact across communities and generations. Since its establishment, 2,299 projects have been submitted for the prize, and 95 participants have been named winners. It has mobilised more than US$14 million and supported the large-scale implementation of 81 development projects across dozens of countries.

“These achievements represent new opportunities, improved living conditions and stronger communities. The projects address different challenges, but they share one important feature: they offer practical solutions that can improve lives and be adapted for use everywhere,” the Saudi prince said.

He said people’s achievements demonstrated that combining knowledge, solutions and the right support was the key to success. He stressed that the challenges facing the world required collective efforts to translate shared aspirations into results that improved people’s lives. This approach would continue to guide those behind the programme.

The ceremony honoured the organisations and individuals named as the 2025 winners. According to the organisers, Yerevan was selected to host the awards because COP17 was taking place during the same period. This coincidence highlights the close connection between the prize’s theme and international efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainable development, emphasising the role of innovative solutions in improving people’s quality of life and conserving natural resources.

Four projects offering innovative solutions in clean energy and human development received awards. They cover climate-resilient water supply systems; food security and sustainable livelihoods; technologies for producing biofuel from waste; and solar-powered irrigation services for small farms. These initiatives demonstrate how access to clean energy can help meet basic needs, expand productive capacity and improve local communities’ quality of life.

The first prize of US$400,000 went to an initiative developed and implemented in Myanmar that promotes climate-resilient, community-managed water supplies through solar-powered pumps and pipelines.

The second prize of US$300,000 went to an initiative implemented in Kenya and Somalia that makes community-based food security management more effective.

The third prize of US$200,000 went to an initiative implemented in Nigeria that uses artificial intelligence to operate biogas plants converting agricultural and food waste into clean fuel gas and electricity.

The fourth prize of US$100,000 went to an initiative developed and implemented in India that increases the efficiency of agricultural irrigation systems severalfold.

The Prince Talal Prize was established in 1999 as the AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Human Development Projects. It is based on a vision of investing in people and encouraging innovation to overcome poverty and social exclusion. It was later renamed in honour of AGFUND founder Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, recognising his humanitarian legacy and contribution to human development.

The total prize fund of US$1 million is distributed across four categories, recognising projects implemented by UN agencies, international and regional organisations, national non-governmental organisations, government bodies, social enterprises and individuals. This diversity helps showcase different approaches to development and promote the wider adoption of successful solutions.

Since 2017, the prize’s themes have been aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In each award cycle, the committee selects a theme related to one of the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on practical initiatives that advance those goals. Continuing this approach, the next award cycle will be dedicated to “Good Health and Well-being”, recognising projects that ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all ages.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed condolences to the people and government of Spain over the deadly train collision in Toledo province on October 28.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the people and government of Spain over the fatalities caused by the train collision in Toledo on October 28. We express our solidarity with the families of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery. Armenia shares your grief and wishes you strength and resilience,” the Armenian prime minister wrote on X. 

The death toll from the collision between two high-speed trains in Spain’s Toledo province stood at around 50, according to the latest reports.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that, to his knowledge, former high-ranking officials were involved in a criminal case concerning the sale of rails from the dismantled Meghri railway.

“I know that there is such a criminal case,” Pashinyan said in parliament when asked about the matter by Civil Contract MP Arman Yeghoyan.

“As far as I know, even former high-ranking officials were involved in that case. But, to be honest, I cannot say at the moment what stage the case is at, how far it has progressed or what its status is. I have just asked my colleagues to check and report back,” the prime minister said.

Yeghoyan raised the issue in the context of parliamentary discussions on TRIPP.

He referred to the dismantling of the former railway and the sale of its rails, asking what progress had been made in the criminal case concerning those circumstances.

According to Yeghoyan, the railway was dismantled in 2003, and the rails were sold to the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine through the Ministry of Defense.

Yeghoyan proposed keeping the issue in the political spotlight as well, noting that criticism of the terms for attracting investment for TRIPP should also address what happened to the former infrastructure.

Pashinyan said he had already asked his colleagues to verify the information about the case and would make it public once he received it.

Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan and Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer signed a memorandum of understanding on enhanced political dialogue.

Mirzoyan, speaking alongside Kajzer during the latter’s visit to Armenia, said the memorandum would help advance the extensive agenda between the two countries.

“We are pleased to note the active dynamics of bilateral political dialogue. There are a number of areas and projects in which we already have quite successful experience. New initiatives are expected in all these fields, including the economy, healthcare, education, science, justice, innovation and tourism,” Mirzoyan said.

Mirzoyan added that Slovenia’s experience and involvement had been very important in introducing a universal health insurance system in Armenia.

“Trade figures are also growing. The figures for the first eight months of this year alone have already exceeded those for the entire previous year. Nevertheless, these figures are still very small, and we must make joint efforts to increase them,” the minister said.

Mirzoyan announced that a business forum involving representatives from both countries would also be held.

Slovenia firmly supports Armenia’s efforts to deepen cooperation with the European Union, Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer said during a joint press conference with Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan.

“We joined the EU in 2004, and we were one of the countries that, having separated from the former Yugoslavia, had to go through all the reforms necessary to be accepted into the European family, and we had a good experience. We are committed to continuing to support Armenia’s reforms and strengthening ties with the EU. We support EU measures aimed at strengthening Armenia’s economic, energy and democratic resilience,” Kajzer said.

He added that Slovenia welcomes the progress in the visa liberalization dialogue between Armenia and the European Union.

Armenia has the support of the European Union and its member states in the process of EU visa liberalization, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

“We have received full support on visa liberalization, and the process has been moving quite quickly so far. But now it is mostly up to us. Legislative changes and technical procedures are envisaged. The faster we work, the sooner we will hopefully achieve a positive result in the process,” Mirzoyan said during a joint press conference with Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer in Yerevan.

Slovenia and Armenia will actively cooperate in the field of biodiversity conservation in the future, Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer has said.

“Slovenia and Armenia are countries with rich biodiversity. We have a wealth of experience to share with others on how to care for the environment and nature,” the Slovenian minister said during a joint press conference with Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan, responding to an Armenpress correspondent’s question about whether Slovenia was ready to share its experience in biodiversity conservation with Armenia.

“In this regard, it is very important to take a balanced approach: on the one hand, protecting biodiversity, and on the other, developing the economy without harming ecosystems. In this respect, the positions of Slovenia and Armenia coincide. We will cooperate closely in the future. Slovenia is the country that declared World Bee Day, a special day dedicated to bees. Without pollinators, there can be no progress in biodiversity conservation. This is one of the issues on the agenda on which Slovenia and Armenia can jointly play a significant role on the global stage,” Kajzer said.

As part of his visit to Armenia, Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer will participate in a high-level ministerial meeting to be held on the sidelines of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.