Dear Fellows,
I would like to welcome all of you to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
As always, I wish to acknowledge the excellent cooperation between the OPCW and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs in organising this visit.
Our engagement with the UN Disarmament Fellowship Programme over the past 26 years has been important to us.
It helps cultivate a new generation of disarmament diplomats who will take forward arms control in general, and the Chemical Weapons Convention specifically.
By fostering knowledge, this programme strengthens the understanding of the mission of the OPCW to implement the Convention and promote global security.
Dear Fellows,
The Chemical Weapons Convention is a key part of the international disarmament architecture.
It was drafted with the aim to completely eradicate a cruel and indiscriminate method of warfare.
All States Parties undertake, without reservations, never to develop, produce, stockpile, and use chemical weapons.
The stocks they possess must also be destroyed, and toxic chemicals may only be used for purposes not prohibited by the Convention.
Furthermore, States Parties must place relevant legitimate activities and facilities under strict international verification.
The Convention’s entry into force in 1997 was a remarkable achievement for disarmament, and much has been accomplished since, to fulfil its object and purpose.
Last July, the OPCW verified that the final possessor State Party, the United States, had destroyed its last chemical munitions.
This completed the destruction of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles by possessor States Parties, thereby achieving one of the core objectives of the Convention.
This was a major success for international disarmament, and for the OPCW.
Throughout this process, we have overseen the destruction of over 72,000 metric tonnes of the most lethal chemical warfare agents ever produced.
Nevertheless, the ban on chemical weapons can never be truly complete without universal membership of the Convention.
Over the past 27 years, our efforts in this respect have been very successful.
To date, 193 countries have become States Parties, making it the disarmament treaty with the highest number of member states in the world.
But four countries have yet to join: Egypt, Israel, North Korea, and South Sudan.
The OPCW is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to persuade these remaining four countries to join.
The Secretariat has especially intensified its contacts with South Sudan, and we hope to welcome it soon as the 194th State Party.
Elimination of all declared stockpiles, however, is not in itself a guarantee against the re-emergence of chemical weapons, through States or non-State actors.
Confidence in the Convention is also built upon one of the most extensive verification systems ever designed for a disarmament treaty.
This involves declarations by States Parties, as well as on-site inspections, monitoring of relevant chemical facilities and trade flows, and stringent data analysis by the Secretariat.
To date, the OPCW has carried out over 4,600 inspections.
It was for these and other very tangible contributions to international peace and security that the OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.
Dear Fellows,
Even though our work has been very successful, we are aware that there are challenges.
With stockpile destruction now complete we have continued to intensify our preventive efforts.
A fundamental challenge for the Organisation is to address the use and threat of use of chemical weapons.
Over the past decade, we have seen chemical attacks in Iraq, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Syria, and the Russian Federation.
The Syrian chemical weapons dossier in particular has been a priority for the Organisation for more than 10 years.
Regrettably there are still many unresolved issues concerning Syria, and you will be receiving an in-depth briefing on our activities in that country later today.
In addition, we find ourselves in an increasingly tense global security situation.
With respect to Ukraine, the Secretariat has been monitoring the conflict there since it began in February 2022.
The Secretariat has also been providing support to Ukraine, upon its request, in the field of assistance and protection against chemical weapons.
These situations underscore the paramount need for the full and effective implementation of the Convention in all parts of the globe.
Broad and comprehensive compliance enhances our ability to monitor the ever-expanding chemical industry.
Every day, production facilities worldwide – from Australia to Zambia – consume large amounts of dual-use toxic chemicals for peaceful and legitimate purposes.
It is therefore crucial that the Convention is implemented at the domestic level through national legislation.
Without such legislation, the CWC National Authority as well as the police, the courts, and customs and border agencies are restricted in their ability to enforce the prohibitions.
Furthermore, it limits their capacities to respond to threats like those posed by non-State actors acquiring and using toxic chemicals for malicious purposes.
In this regard, I wish to highlight that 65 States Parties have still not enacted laws that cover all the necessary measures required by the Convention.
Making certain that there are no implementation gaps is a priority for the Organisation, and we are supporting States Parties in enacting the necessary legislation.
Dear Fellows,
One of the biggest challenges for the OPCW is keeping up with the rapid and ongoing advance of science and technology.
Every day, it seems new discoveries and innovations are shaping and re-shaping the landscape of various fields, including chemistry.
Scientific progress has deep consequences for the Convention and the way in which the OPCW carries out its various mandates.
Transformative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and synthetic biology, can vastly improve our lives, but also inflict potentially enormous damage if used for malicious purposes.
To navigate and grasp the impacts of science on its work, the OPCW relies on its Scientific Advisory Board, the SAB.
By keeping up with the latest advancements, the Board ensures that the Organisation remains informed and prepared to address emerging threats.
For example, the SAB is presently evaluating current research in forensic science that improves the ability to investigate chemical attacks, which will also be a deterrence.
Therefore, the Board’s assessments and recommendations help shape policies and strategies that protect against the misuse of science while leveraging its benefits.
In addressing these emerging challenges, our Centre for Chemistry and Technology serves as an essential resource for the OPCW.
The Centre became operational in May last year and has been used to conduct wide-ranging activities, including training, research, and capacity-building activities.
Importantly, it is enabling us to monitor and mitigate new technological developments.
Just last month, the Director-General organised a workshop on Artificial Intelligence at the Centre, where Secretariat staff and outside experts examined the implications of AI.
This facility is quite new, and the Secretariat will gradually develop its high potential, but it is already proving to be a vital tool for the Organisation.
I am pleased to hear that staff of the Centre will give you a presentation tomorrow.
Dear Fellows,
In closing, I want to take this moment to underline that you all have a role to play in shaping the future of international disarmament and security.
I urge you to actively engage with our experts during your time with us.
Ask questions, seek insights, and expand your existing knowledge.
Your visit is an invaluable opportunity to deepen your understanding of chemical disarmament and the mechanisms that ensure global chemical security.
I also want to reiterate the OPCW’s continued commitment to the cause of arms control.
Our mission is rooted in the fundamental belief that no one should ever suffer from the atrocities of chemical weapons.
We remain steadfast in our endeavours to implement the mandates of the Chemical Weapons Convention and to work towards a world free of chemical weapons.
Thank you for your attention.