Vahe Davtyan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, received a delegation visiting Armenia within the framework of the European Union’s TAIEX instrument, including Luca Saviolo, Frank Hesse, and Susanna Martinez.
Welcoming the guests, the Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of their visit and highlighted the significance of the established partnership between Armenia and the European Union, particularly in the context of capacity building, exchange of experience, and the deepening of sectoral dialogue.
It was noted that the support provided to date has significantly contributed to strengthening the institutional capacities of the Ministry, expanding cooperation, and effectively advancing sectoral initiatives.
During the meeting, reference was also made to the newly approved TAIEX initiative aimed at supporting the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It was emphasized that the initiative is aligned both with the priorities of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be hosted by Armenia this year, and with the commitments undertaken under the Armenia–EU CEPA Agreement.
The implementation of the initiative is scheduled for the first half of July of the current year, in the format of a three-day expert mission. Within the framework of the mission, discussions will cover the legislative framework of the CITES Convention, mechanisms for regulating trade, as well as requirements for facilities for the storage of confiscated specimens.
The approval of the TAIEX application was highlighted as an important instrument for the more effective implementation of the Convention’s provisions, as well as its interconnection with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and Armenia’s commitments under the Armenia–EU CEPA Agreement.
At the end of the meeting, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to continue active cooperation and expressed confidence that the initiative will contribute to the introduction of European best practices and ensure tangible progress.