Afət Ziyadqızı
The Leaders’ Summit has opened in Armenia as part of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), under the slogan “Leaders for Nature.” Nearly 10 heads of state from around the world and high-level delegations from more than 50 countries are attending.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the opening ceremony took place at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex in Yerevan. Main working sessions and intergovernmental discussions are scheduled to be held at the Meridian Expo Center.
The official proceedings began with the Armenian national anthem. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was seated to the left of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was seated to his right.
Those attending the summit in Yerevan include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Algerian Council of the Nation President Azouz Nasri and International Organization of La Francophonie Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo.
The summit is expected to adopt the Yerevan Declaration, titled “For the Protection of Life on Earth,” which will set the political framework for the environmental agenda.
The COP17 conference will run from October 19 to 30, 2026. Its main objective is to conduct the first global assessment of the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an international programme aimed at restoring and protecting the planet’s biodiversity.
