Leader of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons briefs UN

The head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) briefed the United Nations Security Council on issues related to Syria’s chemical weapons last week.

The UN officials expressed their support for the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the work of the OPCW.

“I have come today to the UN Security Council to present the work and current challenges to the OPCW, including our mandated activities related to Syria’s chemical weapons file,” Fernando Arias, director-general of the OPCW, said. “My visit today illustrates the joint commitment of the OPCW and the United Nations to uphold the norm against the use of chemical weapons, and to global peace and security. In this effort, the two organisations work in a complementary manner, as has been manifested in OPCW decisions and resolutions of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly.”

The OPCW oversees the global effort to eliminate chemical weapons permanently. Over 97 percent of all chemical weapon stockpiles declared by the 193 OPCW member states have been destroyed. For its efforts, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. The organization report on a regular basis through the Secretary-General to the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council on its progress.

After his UN address, Arias held bilateral meetings with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu.