On March 13, in Geneva, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan participated and delivered remarks at the High-level Policy Segment of the UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. In his remarks he particularly noted. 

“I am honoured to address the High-level segment of this Forum in my national capacity.

In halfway of the Decade of Action for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, this Forum provides yet another opportunity to reflect on the achievements and existing challenges.

Secretary-General’s latest report clearly shows that the world is greatly off-track in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, leaving over the half of the world behind. The SDGs’ implementation is facing unprecedented challenges, ranging from climate change and poverty to conflicts and gross violations of human rights.

It's important to reassess strategies, promote  global partnership and action to accelerate the progress towards achieving the SDGs. Therefore, Armenia supports the Secretary General’s “Our Common Agenda” and its transformative measures designed to ensure that the UN system delivers on its mandate of ensuring peace, sustainable development and human rights for all peoples.

Armenia’s commitment to SDGs and their nationalisation is anchored in our determination to create favourable environment for human capital development and safeguard fundamental human rights in our country. 

We have undertaken significant efforts to ensure inclusive and quality education, accessible healthcare system and strong social protection services, achieve gender equality and empower women in all spheres of public life. Promotion of good governance and transparency, building accountable state institutions and promoting zero tolerance towards corruption are top priorities of our Government.

Thanks to those reforms, during the last four years, the economy of Armenia maintained the pace of up to double-digit growth, lifting tens of thousands above the poverty line, while maintaining financial stability and strong economic outlook. Thanks to those reforms we were able address the short-term needs of more than 108000 Armenians forcefully displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh last September.

Armenia believes that peace and security are important prerequisites for sustainable development. As a landlocked developing country, Armenia realizes the crucial importance of inclusive connectivity, open borders, fully-functioning roads and transport infrastructure.

Guided by the vision of comprehensiveness, inclusiveness, non-discriminatory use of regional routes and building prosperity for all in the region, the Government of Armenia introduced “The Crossroads of Peace” initiative. It aims at connecting East with West and North with South, creating conditions to unlock the significant potential of our region.

In conclusion, let me reiterate Armenia’s readiness to contribute to effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for safer, more secure and better world for the current and future generations.

I thank you.”