OPCW Director-General on official visit to France

OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, meets with the Director General of Political and Security Affairs at France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Frédéric Mondoloni

THE HAGUE, Netherlands-1Month2024-The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, paid an official visit toFranceon 3and 4April2024.

During his visit, Director-GeneralAriasheldabilateral meeting withtheDirectorGeneral of Political and Security Affairs at France'sMinistry for Europe and Foreign Affairs,Mr FrédéricMondoloni.

The twohigh-level officials discussedthe impact ofthe current international security environment on the global disarmament and non-proliferation architectureandthe implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Director-General Ariasgave an overview ofthe OPCW's Organisational priorities following the end of destruction of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles achievedlast year.He emphasised that preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons, strengthening chemical safety and security in Member States, and achieving universality of the Convention remain top priorities for the Organisation.

The Director-General underlinedthatrapid progress in science and technology presentsboth challenges and opportunities for the effectiveimplementation of the Convention, and that the Organisation iscloselymonitoring developmentsin this field.

"ArtificialIntelligence(AI)isanexample of an evolving technology where opportunities and threats co-exist.We are activelyengaging withscience and technology experts to better understand the impactAIcould haveon theConvention's implementationand ensurean integrated and holistic approach in our response to these new challenges," hesaid.

"The OPCW Centre forChemistryand Technology, which was inaugurated in May last year by the King of the Netherlands,has a key role to playin this endeavour.It significantly enhances the Organisation's capabilitiesto deliver on allitsmandates,"the Director-General underlined.

"I would like to thank France for itsstrongsupporttotheOPCW'sworkand its financial contributions to various activitiescarried out by the Organisation to ensure thatMember Stateshave the right tools and knowledge to effectively respond to the threat of chemical weapons use.In particular, Francehasmade significant contributions to theOPCW international cooperation programme, the construction of the Centre for Chemistry and Technologyas well as the programmes delivered at the Centre after its operationalisation,"said theDirector-General.

"I would like to reaffirm France's support to the OPCW. This unwavering support is also addressed to the Director-General of the Organisation, His Excellency Mr Arias, for the work he has carried out on behalf of the OPCW,"saidMrMondoloni.

During his visit,Director-GeneralAriasalso gave a keynote speech at anevent markingthe25th anniversary of DGAMaîtriseNRBC becomingaccredited as anOPCW designated laboratory.

"France is a key partner for the OPCW and a staunch supporter of the Convention. DGAMaîtriseNRBC has been integral to these efforts from the beginning,"saidthe Director-General in his opening remarks."Partnerships such as this emphasise the commitment of States Parties to the purpose of the Convention.They are essential for realising our joint ambition of a world free of chemical weapons."

The Director-GeneralfurtherhighlightedDGAMaîtrise NRBC'skey contributionstovarious areas ofthe Organisation's work, including the OPCW biotoxins proficiency test system programme and the OPCW Central Analytical Database.

During the visit, H.E. Mr. François Alabrune, Ambassador Permanent Representative of France to the OPCW was also present. The Director-General alsoheldbilateral meetings with high officials from Secretary-Generalat theGeneral Secretariat for Defence and National Security,as well assenior officialsfrom the Cabinet of the President,andof theMinistry of Armed Forces.

Background

France has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997. France is a member of the OPCW Executive Council, the governing body of the Organisation.

To date,France has made voluntary contributions totalling €10,016,907 to nine OPCW trust funds, includingtheTrust Fund for Implementation of Article X, theTrust Fund for a Centre for Chemistry and Technology, and theTrust Fund for Syria Missions.

DGAMaîtriseNRBCbecome an OPCW designated laboratory in 1998, when it was accreditedfor the analysis of environmental samples. In 2016,DGAMaîtriseNRBCwas also accredited for the analysis of biomedical samples.

The OPCW designated laboratories are a linchpin of the Organisation's verification regime and its capacity to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons.

OPCW designated laboratories must be able to perform off-site analysis of chemical samples collected by OPCW inspectors from chemical production facilities, storage depots and other installations, or from the site of an alleged use of chemical weapons.

These laboratories offer the necessary assurance to our States Parties that chemical analyses needed to make determinations or to clarify issues occurring during OPCW deployments are carried out competently, impartially, and with unambiguous results.

TheChemTechCentre, inaugurated in 2023 in presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, enhances the OPCW's ability to conduct chemical research and analysis. This significantly reinforces the Organisation's verification regime and inspection capabilities of chemical industries around the world. In addition, an increasing number of capacity building activities are being delivered through the Centre, including chemical emergency response trainings and analytical skills development courses for experts from Member States.

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.

In2023, the OPCWverifiedthat all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 1997 - totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents - have been irreversibly destroyed under the OPCW's strict verification regime.

For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.