YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Emergency Situations Davit Tonoyan on May 24 participated in the UN 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Cancun, Mexico, the Ministry told Armenpress.

The event was organized by the Mexico Government and the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Office.

The main objective is to enable the governments, NGOs, scientists-experts, as well as the UN organizations to make exchange of experience and develop a strategic guideline for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Global Platform is attended by over 5000 representatives from 176 countries, including heads of states, ministers, members of governments, prominent experts, scientists and etc.

Within the frames of the Platform, over 100 workshops and thematic discussions are being organized with participation of political leaders, ministers, scientists, representatives of international organizations and NGOs of different countries.

Under the co-chairmanship of Minister Tonoyan, a special session on the topic of “Availability and access of early warning systems against various threats and information on disaster risk” was held.

The main mission of the special session was the following:

-effective guidance of investments of countries and international organizations

-presentation of methodology assessing the use of early warning systems in countries

-exchange of experience and information, as well as promotion of spreading successful experience of early warning systems

Minister Tonoyan welcomed the participants and thanked the Mexico government, stating that the current technical progress enables people not only to understand what is happening today, but also in future.

The Minister stated: “I would like to once more emphasize the importance of early warning for sustainable development. Today’s imperative is to create an effective system which will be available for all. In this sense, it is impossible to underestimate the mission of the Global Platform on forming our mission to unite the efforts of all actors and create a resistant planet.

After the session, Minister Tonoyan presented a national report on behalf of the Armenian Government.

The Minister presented Armenia’s disaster preparedness and response capacity development.

The Global Platform is being held since 2006 and is the main meeting of international stakeholders aimed at reducing disaster risks and creating resistant communities.