H.E. Mr Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, OPCW Director-General.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—24 September 2025—The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Mr Ararat Mirzoyan, on 18 September 2025 at the OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague.
During their meeting, Director-General Arias and Minister Mirzoyan exchanged views on key challenges related to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in light of the current complex global security environment and geopolitical dynamics. Director General Arias briefed the Minister on the OPCW’s ongoing activities in Syria, aimed at supporting the country in fulfilling its obligations to completely eliminate its chemical weapons programme inherited from the former government. The Director-General also outlined the Organisation’s activities related to Ukraine.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of reinforcing international cooperation to address emerging threats. Director-General Arias acknowledged Armenia’s constructive role in regional and global non-proliferation initiatives, stressing the significance of capacity development, technical support, and effective national legislation to strengthen the Convention’s reach. He emphasised that OPCW remains committed to providing training opportunities, fostering knowledge and expertise exchange, and supporting all States Parties in meeting their treaty obligations.
Another focus of the exchange was the impact of rapid scientific and technological advancements, especially the risks and opportunities posed by the expanding application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The two officials agreed that heightened scientific vigilance and broader international dialogue are essential to ensure such developments reinforce, rather than weaken, the prohibition regime.
Foreign Minister Mirzoyan remarked: “Armenia remains steadfastly committed to the objectives of the Organisation which continues to play a pivotal role in safeguarding international peace and security by working towards a world free of chemical weapons. We actively engage in meaningful dialogue and genuine multilateral cooperation to advance the OPCW’s vital mission.”
Director-General Arias stated: “As the international security environment grows more complex, reinforcing cooperation among States Parties remains vital to upholding the Chemical Weapons Convention. Our dialogue with Armenia reflects the shared responsibility of all nations to preserve the norm of prohibition of chemical weapons and to ensure that science and technology serve only peaceful purposes. The strength of the Convention lies in the commitment and vigilance of all Member States.”
Following his meeting with the Director-General, the Minister paid a visit to the OPCW ChemTech Center where he was briefed on its role in personnel training, mission support, scientific research, and technical collaboration.
Background
Armenia signed the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993, ratifying it in 1995 and has been an active member since the entry of the Convention into force.
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.
In 2023, the OPCW verified that 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.