Environment Minister Hakob Simidyan received Claudia Bush, the newly appointed Ambassador of Germany to Armenia. Welcoming colleagues in the Ministry of Environment, the minister congratulated Mrs. Bush on her appointment and wished her effective work in expanding and strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

"The German government is a reliable and important partner for Armenia, particularly for our sectoral reforms. The RA government pursues the effective course of all the programs implemented with the German side and is ready to expand the scope of cooperation," the minister noted.

Mrs. Bush, for her part, congratulated the RA government, particularly the Ministry of Environment, on being selected as the host country for the Conference of the Parties to Biodiversity—COP17.

"The protection of biodiversity is a priority in the environmental agenda of both Armenia and Germany, and we can cooperate in organizing and preparing the forum," Minister Simidyan noted.

During the meeting, reference was made to increasing the efficiency of protecting specially protected areas of nature. The possibility of possible cooperation was discussed. The parties referred to the projects implemented with the financial support of Germany.

In particular, the most extensive grant program, "Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development in Armenia," was discussed. Its total budget currently amounts to 26.2 million euros. The plan envisages two components: conservation and management of biodiversity and specially protected nature areas and forest protection and sustainable management.

The minister noted that efforts should be doubled and more concentrated in this direction when hosting the Biodiversity Parties Conference. Possible cooperation in water resources management was also discussed. Simidyan expressed his willingness to deepen cooperation in all innovative directions.