Dear Fellows,
Good morning, and welcome to the Headquarters of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
We are very pleased that a visit to the OPCW is once again part of the Disarmament Fellowship Programme in 2025.
I would like to thank our colleagues in the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs for their close collaboration in arranging this visit.
This Fellowship Programme is important to us.
It draws together a diverse group of diplomats, and fosters knowledge and expertise in disarmament and non-proliferation.
The future of the Chemical Weapons Convention will depend on the efforts of disarmament diplomats from around the world.
Dear Fellows,
This year we mark the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which bans the use of chemical and biological weapons in war.
This is an opportune moment to consider how far we have come.
The OPCW was established in 1997 with the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The Convention remains a central pillar of the international disarmament system, with 193 States Parties – all of whom have undertaken never to develop, produce, stockpile or use chemical weapons.
Only four countries have yet to join the Convention: Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan.
It is thus the most widely –adhered-to international disarmament treaty.
The Convention tasks the OPCW with overseeing the destruction of any declared chemical weapons stockpiles.
In July 2023, the OPCW reached a key milestone with the completion of the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles declared by possessor States Parties.
This was a monumental accomplishment for the disarmament cause.
During this process, the Technical Secretariat has verified the irreversible destruction of over 72,000 metric tonnes of chemical weapons.
However, our mission is not complete.
As the Organisation is now firmly established in the post-destruction phase of its existence, our focus is on preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons.
The cornerstone of our preventive efforts is the industry verification regime.
Every year the OPCW conducts hundreds of industry inspections to build confidence in the adherence to the Convention, and trust among States Parties.
Alongside this, the Secretariat provides comprehensive support to our Member States.
We assist States Parties in implementing the Convention, and in ensuring that they have the capacity to meet their obligations.
We also provide assistance and protection to States Parties against use and threat of use of chemical weapons, and strengthen their capacity to respond to chemical incidents.
Additionally, we help States Parties develop their legitimate chemical industry within sectors such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals, while raising awareness of the Convention.
It was in recognition of these efforts to rid the world of chemical weapons that the OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.
You will hear more about our verification activities, and our international cooperation and assistance programmes from our experts today and tomorrow.
Dear Fellows,
As we pursue our mission of a world free of chemical weapons, we do so in an increasingly complex and challenging reality.
International security is fragile, and regrettably recent years have seen use and threats of use of chemical weapons.
In the past decade chemical weapons have been used in Iraq, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Syria and the Russian Federation.
In the ongoing war in Ukraine, there are allegations of use of chemical weapons by both sides – Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
The Secretariat has recently documented the presence of riot control agents on the battlefield in Ukraine.
We are also strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian first responders and investigators to deal with use of chemical weapons, at Ukraine’s request.
In the Syrian Arab Republic, after more than a decade of work, the chemical weapons file is still open.
As we know, and as the Secretariat has consistently reported, Syria did not declare everything, and the Assad-government did indeed use chemical weapons against its own population.
However, in the last four months we have seen extraordinary developments in Syria.
Following the fall of the Assad Government in December 2024, the Secretariat pursued renewed engagement with the new Syrian Authorities.
The Director-General visited Damascus on 8 February this year where he met with interim President al-Sharaa.
On 5 March, during its regular session, the Foreign Minister of Syria addressed the OPCW Executive Council in this very room.
The Foreign Minister stated Syria’s intention to work alongside the OPCW to identify and destroy any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria, to resolve all outstanding issues, and to bring justice for the victims and survivors of chemical weapons attacks.
This is an historic development for the OPCW and for chemical disarmament in the region.
The OPCW continues to engage with the transitional government of Syria, and our States Parties. We hope to finally close the Syria chemical weapons dossier as soon as possible.
A particular concern in Syria, but also more broadly, is the risk of chemical weapons falling into the hands of non-state actors.
Chemical terrorism is an ever-present threat.
Emerging technologies such as cloud laboratories, synthetic biology, drones, and 3D printing, lower the technological barriers preventing terrorists and others from acquiring and using chemical weapons.
Artificial intelligence and quantum computing accelerate these developments and increase their impact.
All these technologies could make chemical weapons faster to produce, simpler to deploy, and easier to conceal.
The OPCW has to keep abreast of – and adapt to – these technologies and their potential use and misuse.
Key to these efforts is the expertise in our Scientific Advisory Board.
The Board brings together experts in relevant fields to consider issues such as chemical forensics, or artificial intelligence.
Through its working groups and regular reports to the Director-General, the Board ensures that we are ready to face the challenges and opportunities brought by scientific and technological developments.
Dear Fellows,
In facing these current and emerging threats, in May 2023 the OPCW inaugurated our new Centre for Chemistry and Technology (The ChemTech Centre).
The ChemTech Centre houses the new OPCW Laboratory with vastly enhanced technical capabilities, as well as the Technology and Training Hub.
You will visit the ChemTech Centre tomorrow and have the opportunity to learn more about the capabilities and facilities we have there.
Dear Fellows,
In closing, I urge you to learn all you can in your two days with us.
Please use this opportunity to question our experts, and forge connections with disarmament colleagues.
You are an essential part of the future of disarmament.
The challenges ahead of us are great, but the changes in Syria show us that even the most intractable situations can progress, and that continued dialogue is vital.
I wish you an informative and engaging visit.
Thank you for your kind attention.