On August 7, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan received the United Nations (UN) Permanent Coordinator in Armenia and the Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Shombi Sharp on the occasion of handing over of letter of credentials on his appointment as the Permanent Representative of the UN Population Fund.

Greeting the guest, Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan underscored that since its membership Armenia has been actively participating in various UN programmes and is committed to continuing relations with the organization based on the existing agenda.  

Thanking for the warm reception, Shombi Sharp noted that he would make every effort to facilitate the ongoing process of reforms in Armenia.

In the course of the meeting the interlocutors shared their views on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Shombi Sharp commended the positive progress made by Armenia in the implementation of Sustainable Development Agenda as well as goals and targets derived from it, which were summarized in the Armenia’s first Voluntary National Review delivered recently within the framework of the UN High-level Political Forum.

The parties discussed the positive progress made by Armenia in the reduction of maternal death rate and gender imbalance among newborns in which UNFPA had its own input. The demographic challenges Armenia face, including aging population and further steps in this regard were touched upon. UNFPA Permanent Representative briefed Minister on the scheduled events within the frameworks of the International Youth Day and International Day of Older Persons, and 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on the steps taken in the aim of holding snap elections in Armenia. In this context Minister Mnatsakanyan reaffirmed the willingness of the Armenian authorities to work closely with the international partners including the UN structures on the proper conduct of the elections.

Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan presented the preparatory works ahead of the Yerevan Summit of La Francophonie and the parallel events which are to take place during the Summit. Referring to the steps currently taken towards organizing on December 9 in Yerevan the third Global Forum “Against the Crime of Genocide”, Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan noted that Armenia would make consistent efforts to turn this forum into yet another platform for preventing genocide.