Last month, in?Armenia, diplomats from a broad range of countries ¡ª alongside representatives from the United Nations and other international organizations ¡ª gathered on the slopes of Myler Mountain Resort for the country¡¯s inaugural Winter Games.
More than 100 participants took part, including members of the embassies of the United States, France, Russia, India, and the Czech Republic, alongside representatives from the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the EU Mission in?Armenia, a range of regional development banks, and Government counterparts.
The event was informal by design. There were no statements, no negotiating tables, and no formal agendas.
Yet, precisely because of that, it created space for something increasingly rare: open interaction across regions, mandates and institutions, grounded in shared experience beyond protocol.
UN colleagues participated alongside bilateral partners, reflecting the value of showing up together not only in conference rooms, but also in settings that allow trust, familiarity and human connection to form.
Conversations flowed easily, lines blurred, and for a moment, diplomacy felt less constrained by the weight of global crises.
¡°In a fragmented and uncertain world, the simple act of coming together matters more than ever. Informal, human spaces like this help sustain the relationships on which multilateral cooperation depends,¡± reflects UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Fran?oise Jacob.
¡°Dialogue begins with connection, trust, and a willingness to engage beyond our formal roles. I also value seeing peers¨Cand myself¨C push our personal boundaries. It keeps us alert, open-minded, and less risk-averse.¡±
When international cooperation is under strain ¡ª from protracted conflicts to climate shocks and declining trust in multilateral institutions ¡ª such informal encounters should not be dismissed as symbolic. They help sustain relationships and keep channels open, especially in complex regional and geopolitical contexts.
For Armenia, the gathering also underscored its role as a welcoming space for dialogue, bringing together a diverse diplomatic community through culture and sport.
The Winter Games did not aim to resolve global challenges. But they captured the essence of sport for peace: bringing people together across borders and mandates.
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