The President of the Republic delivered a speech at the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries

In Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan participated in the official opening ceremony of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

Following the reception of the heads of delegations and the official photo session, the plenary session of the conference commenced, during which President Vahagn Khachaturyan delivered a speech.

The President’s speech:

“It is my great pleasure to address you all today, as we gather here in Awaza at this historic and truly significant moment – the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

Allow me to sincerely thank the Government of Turkmenistan for the excellent organization of this Conference and for their generous hospitality.

Our deep appreciation also goes to High Representative Madam Rabab Fatima, Secretary of the Third United Nations Conference on LLDCs and her team for their leadership in keeping LLDCs high on the UN agenda.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Access to global markets is vital for achieving inclusive and sustainable development. In today’s interconnected world, cross-border flows of trade, services and people are powerful drivers of shared prosperity. Yet, LLDCs continue to face pressing challenges due to geographical constraints, which too often limit their ability to fully participate in global trade, diversify their economies and attract investments, slowing our shared progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

To overcome these challenges and transform the lives and economies of LLDCs, we now have a clear and forward-looking roadmap. The Awaza Programme of Action is a comprehensive set of concrete steps, commitments and deliverables by all stakeholders, with a particular focus on responding to the socio-economic consequences of emerging threats. The five priority areas of the new Programme of Action build on the Vienna Programme of Action and directly address the most pressing challenges LLDCs face today.

The Awaza Programme of Action will serve as a blueprint for promoting enhanced cooperation among LLDCs, transit countries, the United Nations, its agencies, as well as international development organizations and financial institutions, helping us make urgent and meaningful progress on our shared priorities.

However, translating the ambitions of the new Programme of Action into concrete results on the ground will be a daunting task in the face of inadequate financing, especially for transport infrastructure and it is evident that LLDCs cannot do this alone. We need enhanced regional cooperation between landlocked and transit countries. Removing artificial and politically-motivated barriers to the free movement of people, goods and services is not only a practical necessity, it is also essential for upholding economic and social rights, advancing the right to development and promoting inclusive regional and global connectivity.

We stress the importance of meaningful support by development partners to increase investment in cross-border infrastructure so that trade becomes faster and more efficient.

We must also ensure that LLDCs are fully engaged in global digital and green transitions, so they are not left behind in the global economy.

We must also enhance resilience in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. Armenia, as the next host and Presidency of the Biodiversity COP17, will spare no efforts to advance this important agenda and to ensure that LLDCs are fully connected and benefit from their rich biodiversity resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am representing a country that has been facing the impact of geographical constraints and a complex geopolitical environment for over three decades. With closed borders with two of our neighbors, no direct access to an ocean or sea, unique challenges in trade, transport and logistics, the Government of Armenia fully realizes the crucial importance of inclusive connectivity, open borders, and reliable roads and transport infrastructure for our integration into global markets.
With this understanding the Government of Armenia has developed the “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, which demonstrates my country’s commitment to regional peace and cooperation and to fostering inclusive connectivity at regional and global levels.

“The Crossroads of Peace” project has the potential to transform our economies into more prosperous and resilient ones. By placing the alignment of economic interests alongside long‑awaited peace and stability at its heart, it seeks to establish practical trade arrangements built on shared interests in areas such as trade, transport, energy and tourism - turning vision into reality.

Excellences,

In conclusion I would like to once again express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations for organizing this Conference, and we look forward to active and meaningful discussions aimed at building a future where being landlocked is no longer a limitation, but a starting point for innovation, resilience and shared prosperity. Let me also reiterate that Armenia remains fully committed to effective multilateral cooperation with all partners to implement the Awaza Programme of Action for LLDCs.

I thank you.”