News

Director of United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency meets OPCW Director-General

Discussion focuses on the way forward in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention

15 May 2023
Director of United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency meets OPCW Director-General

H.E Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and H.E. Ms Rebecca Hersman, Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of the United States of America

THE HAGUE, Netherlands—15 May 2023— The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias met with the Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of the United States of America, Ms Rebecca Hersman, at the OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague.

“I am honoured to represent the Defense Threat Reduction Agency as the OPCW celebrates the opening of the new ChemTech Centre and to discuss future cooperation between our organisations,” Ms Hersman said.

The Director-General briefed Ms Hersman on the OPCW’s progress in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention. The two high-level officials discussed challenges and opportunities in disarmament and non-proliferation in the context of the current international security environment.

Ambassador Arias underscored the essential role the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre) will play in strengthening the Organisation’s capabilities to address chemical weapons threats worldwide.

“The Centre will ensure that the OPCW can keep pace with rapid advances in science and technology, which is a key factor to preventing chemical weapons re-emergence,” the Director-General said. “In addition, the Centre will allow us to offer an increased number of advanced training and capacity building activities for experts from both the Secretariat and Member States of the OPCW to strengthen chemical emergency response capabilities.”  

“The ChemTech Centre will ensure that the OPCW continues to deliver effectively and efficiently on all its mandates in accordance with the Convention and the relevant decisions of the policy-making organs of the Organisation,” he emphasised.

The Director-General concluded the visit by underscoring the importance of the Fifth Review Conference (RC-5) for the successful implementation of the Convention. RC-5 is taking place from 15 to 19 May in the Hague.

Director of United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency meets OPCW Director-General

Background

The United States of America (USA) has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997. The USA is a member of the Executive Council, the OPCW’s executive organ, which is responsible for promoting the effective implementation of and compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention as well as supervising the activities of the Organisation’s Technical Secretariat.

The USA is in the process of completing destruction of its remaining chemical weapons stockpiles in line with a decision of the Conference of States Parties. Over 98% of USA’s declared stockpile has been verifiably destroyed.

The ChemTech Centre is an important upgrade to the OPCW’s research, analytical and capacity building activities. It will serve as a knowledge repository to address chemical threats worldwide, and as a platform for the broader OPCW community to promote expert dialogue, exchange, and collaboration in advancing the peaceful and safe uses of chemistry.

The new facility will also help strengthen Member States’ capabilities related to verification tools, detection and response in the case of a chemical emergency.

The ChemTech Centre is located within the Heron Business Park in Pijnacker-Nootdorp, outside The Hague, close to the OPCW Headquarters.

As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, 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 99% of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.

More Information