Left to Right: OPCW Director-General H.E. Mr Fernando Arias; His Majesty, the King, Felipe VI; Cristina Gallach, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—10 September 2020—The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias paid an official visit to Madrid, Spain during the week of 7 September 2020. The highlight of the visit was an audience with His Majesty, the King, Felipe VI, followed the next day by a visit to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, H.E. Ms Arancha González Laya.
Director-General Arias also had meetings with other high-level officials.
The Director-General provided updates on the OPCW’s progress in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention. Following Spain’s previous €120,000 contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology, the Director-General also provided a status update on the project. He expressed his gratitude for Spain’s support for the work of the Organisation and the effort to rid the world of chemical weapons.
Left: Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, H.E. Ms Arancha González Laya. Right: OPCW Director-General H.E. Mr Fernando Arias
Background
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Members, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
Over 98% of all chemical weapon stockpiles declared by possessor States have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.