Speeches and Statements

Director-General

Document Symbol Title Date
Statement by Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare, 30 November 2022 30 November 2022
C‑27/DG.16 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Twenty-Seventh Session 28 November 2022
Keynote Speech by the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, at Subregional Forum on the Chemical Weapons Convention: Enhancing National Implementation and Regional Cooperation in the Pacific Region 19 October 2022
Speech by the OPCW Director-General, at the Spiez Convergence Workshop on Scientific and Technological Developments with a Potential Impact on Arms Control Issues 12 September 2022
Op-ed by the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, for the UN Chronicle: ‘All stakeholders have a role to play in ridding the world of chemical weapons’ 26 July 2022
Speech by the Director-General of the OPCW, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, at the Launch of the Competence Network CBWNet: Achievements of the Chemical Weapons Convention and Future Challenges, 29 April 2022 29 April 2022
EC‑99/DG.17 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Ninety-Ninth Session 8 March 2022
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, at the Twelfth Session of the Advisory Board on Education and Outreach, 8 February 2022 8 February 2022
Statement by the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare, 30 November 2021 30 November 2021
C‑26/DG.17 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Twenty-Sixth Session 29 November 2021
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, at the 23rd Annual Meeting of National Authorities, 23 November 2021 23 November 2021
Introductory Remarks by OPCW Director-General, Fernando Arias, at the Fourth Meeting of the OPCW Africa Programme Steering Committee 15 November 2021
Remarks by the OPCW Director-General, at the Briefing for non-Hague based Permanent Representations to the OPCW 12 November 2021
Remarks by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, at the 23rd International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference (CWD) 2 November 2021
EC‑98/DG.30* Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Eighth Session of the Executive Council 5 October 2021
EC‑98/DG.31 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Eighth Session of the Executive Council (Full Version) 5 October 2021
Keynote Address by the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, at the Twelfth Asser Institute Training Programme on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction 27 September 2021
EC‑97/DG.22 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Seventh Session of the Executive Council (Full Version) 6 July 2021
EC‑97/DG.21 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at Its Ninety-Seventh Session 6 July 2021
Introductory Remarks by the Director-General, Fernando Arias, at the Third Meeting of the OPCW Africa Programme Steering Committee 25 June 2021
Statement by the OPCW Director-General, at the United Nations Security Council 3 June 2021
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Director-General, at the Arms Control Association and Chemical Weapons Convention Coalition Webinar “Reinforcing the Norm Against Chemical Weapons" 10 May 2021
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Director-General, at the Tenth Session of the Advisory Board on Education and Outreach 9 February 2021
Statement by the Director-General of the OPCW on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare, 1 December 2020 1 December 2020
C‑25/DG.19 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Twenty-Fifth Session 30 November 2020
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Director-General at the 22nd Annual Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention 23 November 2020
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, at the Group S Inspectors Graduation Ceremony 20 November 2020
Remarks by the OPCW Director-General to the Briefing for non-Hague based Permanent Representations to the OPCW 18 November 2020
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Director-General, at the Seventh Annual Meeting of Representatives of Chemical Industry and National Authority of the Chemical Weapons Convention 17 November 2020
Introductory Remarks by the Director-General, Fernando Arias, at the Second Meeting of the OPCW Africa Programme Steering Committee 16 November 2020
Remarks by the Director-General of the OPCW, H.E Mr Fernando Arias, at Virtual Dialogue on Achieving Gender Balance at the Disarmament Table 11 November 2020
EC‑95/DG.28 Note by the Director-General: Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Fifth Session of the Executive Council 6 October 2020
Opening Remarks by the Director-General of the OPCW, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, to the 20th Induction Workshop for Diplomatic Personnel 17 September 2020
EC‑94/DG.23 Note by the Director-General: Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Fourth Session of the Executive Council 7 July 2020
EC‑94/DG.24 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Fourth Session of the Executive Council (Full Version) 7 July 2020
Introductory Remarks of the Director-General at the Inaugural Meeting of the Steering Committee of the OPCW Africa Programme 26 June 2020
Opening Remarks by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, at the Workshop on Assessing and Enhancing Capacity of Analytical Laboratories from African and GRULAC Member States 2 June 2020
Director-General’s Statement on the First Report by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team 8 April 2020
EC‑93/DG.16 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Third Session of the Executive Council 10 March 2020
EC‑93/DG.18 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Third Session of the Executive Council (Full Version) 10 March 2020
Director-General’s Statement on the Report of the Investigation into Possible Breaches of Confidentiality 6 February 2020
C‑24/DG.19 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Twenty-Fourth Session 25 November 2019
C‑24/DG.21 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at Its Twenty-Fourth Session (Full Version) 25 November 2019
EC‑92/DG.34 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-Second Session of the Executive Council (Full Version) 8 October 2019
Statement by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, at the 13th CBRNe Protection Symposium 24 September 2019
Remarks by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, at the welcome reception hosted by Director-General, Department of Arms Control, Mr. Fu Cong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2 September 2019
EC‑91/DG.24 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Ninety-First Session (As Delivered) 9 July 2019
EC‑91/DG.25 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Ninety-First Session of the Executive Council (Full Version) 9 July 2019
Speech by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, at the Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-proliferation (CPDNP), “The Chemical Weapons Convention in 2019: Building on past successes and to address current challenges” 21 June 2019
Lecture by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, at the Integrated Center for UN and Foreign Affairs Studies at Kwansei Gakuin University 18 June 2019
Remarks of the Director-General: Briefing for States Parties on Syrian Arab Republic: Update on IIT-FFM-SSRC-DAT 28 May 2019
Remarks by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, at 22nd International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference (CWD) 23 May 2019
EC‑90/DG.16* Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Ninetieth Session 12 March 2019
Opening Remarks of the Director-General at the Sixty-Third Meeting of the Executive Council (EC-M-63) 25 February 2019
EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Conference: The CWC after the Fourth Review Conference – Keynote Speech by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias 18 December 2018
Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare Statement by the Director-General of the OPCW 26 November 2018 The Hague 26 November 2018
C‑23/DG.19 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Twenty-Third Session (Full Version) 19 November 2018
C‑23/DG.18 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Twenty-Third Session 19 November 2018
Meeting of the Board of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) Opening Remarks by the Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias 26 October 2018
EC‑89/DG.31 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Eighty-Ninth Session 9 October 2018
Asser Institute Ninth Annual WMD Training Programme Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in a Changing World Keynote Address Director-General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias 1 October 2018 1 October 2018
C‑SS‑4/DG.4 Opening Statement by the Director–General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Fourth Special Session 26 June 2018
Restoring Restraint: Enforcing Accountability for Users of Chemical Weapons Keynote Address to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü Washington D.C., the United States 19 June 2018
Opening address by the Director-General of the OPCW Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü Conference on Countering Chemical Terrorism 7 June 2018 The Hague, the Netherlands 7 June 2018
EEBL Open Day, University of Rome Tor Vergata “The Chemical Weapons Convention: An Instrument for Peace” Keynote Speech by Director-General of the OPCW Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü Rome, Italy 28 May 2018 28 May 2018
“Supporting Compliance with and Implementation of the CWC” Remarks by the Director-General of the OPCW Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü Chatham House, United Kingdom 25 May 2018 25 May 2018
21st International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference (CWD) Keynote speech by the Director-General of the OPCW Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, London, United Kingdom 24 May 2018 24 May 2018
"The importance of science in the implementation of the CWC" Royal Society of Chemistry Keynote speech by the Director-General of the OPCW Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü London, United Kingdom 23 May 2018 23 May 2018
Keynote statement by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü International Workshop on “Science for Development” 9 May 2018 Quy Nhon, Viet Nam 9 May 2018
138th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union “Proliferation of weapons and meeting international commitments” Statement by the Director-General of the OPCW Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü Geneva, Switzerland 27 March 2018 27 March 2018
Twenty-Seventh Session of the Scientific Advisory Board Remarks by the Director-General OPCW Headquarters, The Hague, The Netherlands 21 March 2018 21 March 2018
Celebration of Nourouz Address by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director-General, OPCW Headquarters, The Hague, Netherlands 21 March 2018 21 March 2018
United Nations Security Council Statement by the Director-General OPCW, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü 20 March 2018
American Chemical Society – National Meeting and Expo Address by the Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü 17 March 2018 New Orleans, United States of America 17 March 2018
Royal Military Academy of Belgium Address by the Director-General of the OPCW, Amb. Ahmet Üzümcü Brussels, Belgium 7 March 2018
Foreign Policy and United Nations Association of Austria Past and Future Challenges to the Chemical Weapons Convention Speech by the Director-General of the OPCW Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü 21 February 2018
Meeting on the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons Address by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director General 23 January 2018
Keynote Speech by the Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü At the Wilton Park Conference: The CWC – the Fourth Review Conference and Beyond Reflections on the Future of the OPCW Wiston House, the United Kingdom 22 January 2018 22 January 2018
Ceremony Marking the Completion of the Destruction Process of Libya’s Remaining Category 2 Chemical Weapons Address by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director-General Munster, Germany 11 January 2018 11 January 2018
Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare Statement by the Director-General 30 November 2017 30 November 2017
Remarks of the Director-General on the occasion of the 2017 OPCW – The Hague Award ceremony 27 November 2017 The Hague 27 November 2017
Green Chemistry Workshop: Green And Sustainable, Opening Remarks of the Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, The Hague, The Netherlands, November 2017 24 November 2017
Remarks by Director General Ahmet Üzümcü at 19th Annual Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention 22 November 2017
The Chemical Weapons Convention in 2017: What Are the Boundaries to Its Future Evolution? Introductory Remarks by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General OPCW, OPCW Headquarters, Thursday, 16 November 2017 16 November 2017
Remarks on the Occasion of Armistice Day 2017, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General OPCW, Ieper, Belgium, Saturday, 11 November 2017 11 November 2017
“20 Years of the OPCW: Its Achievements, Future Outlook and Cooperation with Industry” Statement by Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü At the ICCA Board Meeting, Vienna 27 October 2017 27 October 2017
Allocution: Colloque "Prévenir le risque de détournement de produits et d’installations chimiques" Paris, France, 17 octubre 20172017 17 October 2017
Remarks by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü at the Twenty-Sixth Session of the Scientific Advisory Board 16 October 2017
“OPCW’s Role in New International Security Scenarios: the Syrian Experience” Statement by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General OPCW At The Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Santiago 26 September 2017 26 September 2017
Remarks by the Director-General at the Stakeholders Forum For States Parties In Latin America And The Caribbean (GRULAC) on the Adoption of National Implementing Legislation on the Chemical Weapons Convention 26 September 2017
Stakeholders Forum for States Parties in Africa on Adoption of national Implementing legislation Ahmet Üzümcü Opening remarks on day two Director-General of the OPCW 13 September 2017 13 September 2017
"The CWC, implementation and considerations for Africa" International Relations Institute of Cameroon Yaoundé, Cameroon Speech by the Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü 13 September 2017 13 September 2017
Keynote Address by the Director-General: Asser Institute Eighth Annual WMD Summer Programme - Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in a Changing World 4 September 2017
Webinar Lecture “Ethics in Science” by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director-General, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jakarta, 27 July 2017 27 July 2017
The Chemical Weapons Convention: A Model of International Solidarity and the Power of a Universal Ideal, Remarks by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director-General, Australian Institute for International Affairs, Melbourne, 25 July 2017 25 July 2017
The 17th Asian Chemical Congress Keynote Address by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director-General Melbourne, Australia 25 July 2017 25 July 2017
Statement by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü to the Executive Council at its 55th Meeting 5 July 2017
Statement by the Director-General At the Institute for Political and International Studies Tehran, Iran 2 July 2017 2 July 2017
Closing Remarks by the Director-General Sixth Regional Basic Training Course on Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons Tehran, Iran 2 July 2017 2 July 2017
The Chemical Weapons Convention 1997-2017: Progress, Challenges and Reinforcing the Global Norm against Chemical Weapons Keynote Speech by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü Washington, United States of America 20 June 2017 20 June 2017
Peace and Disarmament: The Bedrock of Growth and Prosperity Peking University Beijing, China Keynote Speech by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü 15 June 2017 15 June 2017
Uncovering the Use of Chemical Weapons: the Role of Science and the OPCW Designated Laboratories Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General OPCW University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland 29 May 2017 29 May 2017
Statement by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General OPCW 13th Annual NATO Conference on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation Helsinki, Finland 29 May 2017 29 May 2017
Keynote Speech by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü: 20th International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference London, United Kingdom 25 May 2017
Keynote: 1st Scientific International Conference On CBRNE (SICC): Twenty years after the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention: Looking back and looking forward 23 May 2017
Statement by the Director-General: Ceremony to Commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the OPCW 26 April 2017
Statement by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General, OPCW "Supporting the Aims of Resolution 1540 through Chemical Weapons Convention" 6 April 2017
Eighth Singapore International Symposium on Protection Against Toxic Substances (SISPAT) “Staying one step ahead of evolving CBRN threats through international cooperation” Keynote Address by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General 21 March 2017
Statement at the Official Opening of the Tree of Life Monument at the Garden of the Embassy of Iraq 16 March 2017
The Oxford Union Address by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü Director-General OPCW, 20 February 2017 20 February 2017
Meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the Implementation of Resolution 1540 2004 15 December 2016 15 December 2016
Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare Statement by the Director-General The Twenty-first Session of the Conference of States Parties 30 November 2016 30 November 2016
Opening Remarks by the Director-General 18th Annual Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention 23 November 2016 23 November 2016
Opening Remarks by Director-General OPCW, Ahmet Üzümcü “Training Course for National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention on Training Escorts for Inspections” Doha Regional Centre for CBRN Training Doha, Qatar 23 October 2016
“Abolishing Chemical Weapons: 20 Years On” Lecture by Director-General Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü At Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar 23 October 2016 23 October 2016
Opening Remarks by H.E. Mr Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director-General Regional Seminar on Chemical Safety and Security Management Dhaka, Bangladesh 18 October 2016
Lecture by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü at the University of Dhaka 18 October 2016
Speech to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General OPCW Dhaka, Bangladesh 17 October 2016
Lecture delivered by Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director-General Korea National Diplomatic Academy 9 September 2016
Chemical Weapons: New Threats and Ongoing Challenges Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General of the OPCW Fifth Seoul Defense Dialogue 8 September 2016
The OPCW's Mission and Role for International Peace and Prosperity Address to Students at Hankuk University 8 September 2016
Remarks at Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research Annual Retreat, Bad Nauheim, Germany 21 July 2016
Keynote Speech 19th International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference (CWD) 26 May 2016
Remarks to Symposium on Women in Chemistry 17 May 2016
Opening Remarks at the Chemical Safety and Security Management Workshop for North Africa, Middle East and Gulf Sub-Regions 16 May 2016
The Speech of the Director-General to NATO Conference on WMD Arms Control, Disarmament, and Non-Proliferation 9 May 2016
Closing Remarks to OPCW Day 4 May 2016
Opening Remarks OPCW Day 2016: Chemical Safety and Security in a Technologically Evolving World 2 May 2016
Remarks to Advisory Board on Education and Outreach 28 April 2016
Re-Arming Our Humanity: Contributions of Disarmament to Peace 1 February 2016
Remarks at the Ceremony for Conferment of Légion d'Honneur (French) 15 December 2015
Remarks by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü at the 17th Annual Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention 27 November 2015
Remarks by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü at the Closing Ceremony of Maradykovsky Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility 30 October 2015
Destruction and Beyond: New and Emerging Challenges for Chemical Disarmament – Speech by the Director-General at the 3rd International Symposium on Development of CBRN-Defence Capabilities 20 October 2015
Remarks by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü at the Closing Ceremony of the Associate Programme 2 October 2015
Opening remarks by OPCW Director-General, Ahmet Üzümcü, at the Workshop on Guidelines for the Practice of Chemistry under the Norms of the CWC 17 September 2015
Chemical Disarmament at the Crossroads: Past Successes and Future Challenges - Lecture to Institute for Political Studies of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa 11 September 2015
Partnerships for Disarmament: Lessons from Chemical Weapons Disarmament: Speech to Institute of Chemical Technology 4 September 2015
Reinforcing the Norm Against Chemical Weapons: Speech to Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses 3 September 2015
Remarks by Director-General at University of Surrey 16 July 2015
Keynote Speech at CTBT: Science and Technology 2015 Conference (SnT2015) 22 June 2015
Wilton Park Event “100 years of Chemical Weapons and the Future of the OPCW” - Statement by the Director-General at the British Embassy, The Hague 15 June 2015 15 June 2015
“Towards a World Free of Chemical Weapons: Disarmament for the Next Generation” Lecture by OPCW Director-Genera Ahmet Üzümcül at Tsinghua University, China 7 June 2015
Statement by the Director-General at the 18th International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference 4 June 2015
Opening remarks by OPCW Director-General, Ahmet Üzümcü, at 13th Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Africa 2 June 2015
Conférence du Directeur général de l'OIAC, Ahmet Üzümcü, à l’Université des sciences et de la technologie Houari-Boumediene (French) 1 June 2015
Remarks by Director-General at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences, 26 May 2015 26 May 2015
Statement by the Director-General at the Remembrance Day for the Victims of Chemical Warfare 29 April 2015
OPCW Director-General Statement at Ieper Commemorative Gathering 21 April 2015
Director-General's Justice Breyer Lecture at Brookings Institution 9 April 2015
Commemoration of the 1988 Halabja Chemical Weapons Attack 16 March 2015
A Disarmament for Peace: Nobel Peace Prize Forum 7 March 2015
What Has Made the OPCW Successful - Director-General speech's at the Institute of International Relations, Prague 16 February 2015 16 February 2015
Director-General's speech at Kyoto University 12 February 2015 12 February 2015
Chemical Disarmament: The Syria Mission and Beyond Speech at Complutense University Madrid 22 January 2015
Opening remarks by Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General at Sixteenth Annual Meeting of National Authorities 27 November 2014
Director-General's Opening Address at the Vincent Award 21 November 2014
Director-General's Address at the Said Business School, University of Oxford 17 November 2014 17 November 2014
Keynote Speech at the Aula Magna, Havana University: Science in the Service of Humanity: The OPCW and Global Chemical Disarmament 20 October 2014
Opening Remarks at the Regional Course on Medical Aspects of Assistance and Protection against Chemical Weapons for States Parties in the Latin America and Caribbean Region 20-23 October 2014, Havana, Republic of Cuba 20 October 2014
Opening Address at the Education for Peace: New Pathways for Securing Chemical Disarmament conference 21 September 2014
Director-General's speech at the opening event of Just Peace weekend 19 September 2014
Director-General's Statement at the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Conference, Brussels 4 September 2014 4 September 2014
Letter to the Pancretan Commission Against the Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons in the Enclosed Sea of the Mediterranean Sea 29 July 2014
Statement of the Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, at the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF), Copenhagen, 25 June 2014 25 June 2014
Director-General's remarks at the Tenth Annual NATO Conference on WMD Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation 23 June 2014
Director-General's Address at the ACUNS Annual Meeting, Istanbul 19 June 2014 19 June 2014
Statement of the Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, at the opening session of the World Congress on CBRNe Science and Consequence Management 2 June 2014
Keynote at ECSITE 2014: Communicating Science for Peace: the Chemical Disarmament Experience 24 May 2014
Lecture by OPCW Director-General Belarusian State University 19 May 2014
Director-General Statement at the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (ABIQUIM) 15 May 2014
Remarks by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü at the Unveiling of Halabja Monument 29 April 2014
Victim Remembrance Day Statement by Director-General OPCW 29 April 2014
Conference Remarks by the Director-General at the Foreign Ministry in Uruguay 9 April 2014
Towards a World Free of Chemical Weapons: The Role and Work of the OPCW on the Path to Global Disarmament - Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General OPCW 7 April 2014
Opening statement at the Regional Meeting on Education in the Responsible Application of Knowledge of Dual-Use Chemicals 7 April 2014
Acceptance Speech by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü at the University of Bologna 17 January 2014
Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü Address to the Italian Parliament 16 January 2014
The 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Lecture delivered by OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü 10 December 2013
C‑18/DG.17 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Eighteenth Session 2 December 2013
Director-General’s Statement at the 34th Meeting of the Executive Council 5 November 2013
Thank You Letter From the Director-General Upon Winning the Nobel Peace Prize 18 October 2013
Director-General's Statement at the Press Conference on 9 October 2013 9 October 2013
Speech at the Fortieth Anniversary of VERIFIN 7 October 2013
Director-General’s Statement on Executive Council Decision on Destruction of Syria Chemical Weapons 27 September 2013
Address to the 2013 Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference 5 June 2013
Statement by the Director-General at the Remembrance Day for All Victims of Chemical Warfare 29 April 2013
Director-General's Talking Points at the Opening of an Exhibition Marking the 15th Year of the OPCW 15 April 2013
The Chemical Weapons Convention: Making Disarmament Happen 19 March 2013
Knowledge Transfer, International Organisations and Global Education 18 March 2013
Director-General's Address at the Seminar on the Chemical Weapons Convention and Chemical Safety and Security Management for Member States of the OPCW in the Asia Region 11 December 2012
Keynote Address to the Seventh Singapore International Symposium on Protection against Toxic Substances (SISPAT) 4 December 2012
Speaking Notes: Cooperative Threat Reduction: Partnering for a More Secure World 3 December 2012
Remarks by the Director-General on the occasion of the unveiling of the monument sponsored by Iran 26 November 2012
C‑17/DG.16* Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Seventeenth Session 25 November 2012
Opening Remarks by the Director-General at the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of National Authorities 22 November 2012
Director General's Statement at the Sixty-Seventh Session of the United Nations General Assembly 19 November 2012
Director General Talking Points at Wilton Park: The Chemical Weapons Convention: Third Review Conference and Beyond 17 October 2012
Welcome remarks by the Director-General: Informal meeting between States Parties and the Chemical Industry 23 September 2012
Remarks made by the Director-General during the flag-hoisting ceremony, 31 August 2012 31 August 2012
Address at the Lowy Institute for International Policy 25 July 2012
John Gee Memorial Lecture 25 July 2012
Eulogy for Mr. Leslie Gumbi 20 July 2012
Director-General's Address at the 22nd International Conference on Chemistry Education and the 11th European Conference on Research in Chemical Education 16 July 2012
Director General's Opening Remarks: Article X Programmes – Opportunities for the OPCW Member States 9 July 2012
Statement by H. E. Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General OPCW At the Tenth Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Asia 26 June 2012
Address: 15th Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference 22 May 2012
Remarks: Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) Closing Ceremony 17 May 2012
Director-General's Address at the Seminar on the Chemical Weapons Convention and Chemical-Safety-and-Security Management for Member States of the Region of Southeast and South Asia 3 May 2012
Statement by the Director-General at Remembrance Day For All Victims of Chemical Warfare 26 April 2012
Director-General's Statement during the State Visit of H.E. Abdullah GÜL, President of the Republic of Turkey 18 April 2012
Opening Remarks during a Visit by the Institute for High Defence Studies (Istituto Altri Studi Per La Difesa) 27 March 2012
Address to the Royal Society of Chemistry, Belgium Section 15 March 2012
Speech at Monterey Institute of International Studies, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies 27 February 2012
DG Statement at the IUPAC Workshop: Trends in Science and Technology Relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) 20 February 2012
Director–General’s remarks at the meeting of The Hague Programme on Disarmament & Non- Proliferation Efforts on the outcomes of the 7th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Conference 2 February 2012
Multilateral Cooperation for Security- The example of the Chemical Weapons Convention 10 January 2012
Statement at Third International Workshop on Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents to Mark the International Year of Chemistry 8 December 2011
Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at its Sixteenth Session 28 November 2011
Statement at the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly FC Statement 12 October 2011
Address by Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director–General. at the Closing Session of the Associate Programme 2011 23 September 2011
Speaking Notes: Annual NATO Conference on WMD Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation 16 June 2011
C‑15/DG.14 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at Its Fifteenth Session 29 November 2010
International Meeting on Chemical Safety and Security 8 November 2010
65th Session of the UN General Assembly - First Committee -- Statement 13 October 2010
High-level Meeting on Revitalizing the Work of the Conference on Disarmament and Taking Forward Multilateral Disarmament Negotiations 24 September 2010
OPCW Director-General’s Farewell Address to the Clingendael Institute 3 June 2010
C‑14/DG.13 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Conference of the States Parties at Its Fourteenth Session 30 November 2009

Deputy Director-General

Title Date
Opening remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the 14th Session of the Advisory Board on Education and Outreach (ABEO) 7 February 2023
Statement by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the CSP-27 Side Event Panel Discussion “Women, Peace & Security and the Chemical Weapons Convention” 28 November 2022
Welcome Address by Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the Review and Evaluation Workshop of the Components of an Agreed Framework for the Full Implementation of Article XI as delivered on 14 November 2022, The Hague, The Netherlands 14 November 2022
Closing Remarks by Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the Briefing for Non-Hague based Permanent Representations as delivered on 10 November 2022, Brussels, Belgium 10 November 2022
Speech by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the Dr José Gustavo Guerrero Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador 27 September 2022
Opening Remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the Workshop on Best Practices in the Development of a Legislative and Regulatory Framework on Chemical Security 27 September 2022
Welcome Remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Programme as delivered on 23 September 2022, The Hague, Netherlands 23 September 2022
Opening Remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the Thirteenth Session of the Advisory Board on Education and Outreach, 19 July 2022 19 July 2022
Closing remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the Regional Basic Course on Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons and Emergency Response to Chemical Incidents for States Parties in Asia, 19-23 June 2022 19 June 2022
Statement by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the 52nd Session of the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters (ABAF), 7 June 2022 7 June 2022
Opening remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at the Education Training Programme on Peaceful Uses of Chemistry for Youth, 7 April 2022, Online 7 April 2022
Remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at the Thirty-Fourth Session of the Scientific Advisory Board, 15 March 2022 15 March 2022
Welcome address by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at theReview and Evaluation Workshop of the Components of an Agreed Framework for the Full Implementation of Article XI, 10 November 2021, Online 10 November 2021
Keynote address by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the online event Women in Science: Promoting and Empowering Women Scientists to Change the World, 1 October 2021 1 October 2021
Welcome remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Programme, 24 September 2021 24 September 2021
Closing remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at the Twenty First Induction Workshop for Diplomatic Personnel Involved in the Work of the OPCW, 17 September 2021 17 September 2021
Remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at the Virtual Conference on Chemistry and its Applications, 9-13 August 2021 9 August 2021
Statement by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at the 51st Session of the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters (ABAF), 27 July 2021 27 July 2021
Welcome address by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at the Symposium on Women in Chemistry, 1 July 2021 1 July 2021
Statement by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at the 50th Session of the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters (ABAF), 1 June 2021 1 June 2021
Statement by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice, 18 May 2021 18 May 2021
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melano at the Global Women’s Breakfast 2021, 9 February 2021, The Hague, Netherlands 9 February 2021
Closing Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melano at the 22nd Annual Meeting of National Authorities, 25 November 2020, online 25 November 2020
Closing Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melano at the Twentieth Induction Workshop for Diplomatic Personnel Involved in the Work of the OPCW, 17 September 2020, The Hague, Netherlands 17 September 2020
Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melano at the Twenty-Ninth Session of the Scientific Advisory Board, 1 September 2020, The Hague, Netherlands 1 September 2020
Welcome Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melano at Global Women’s Breakfast 2020, 12 February 2020, The Hague, Netherlands 12 February 2020
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Discussion Panel “Being the only one”, 11 February 2020 11 February 2020
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Briefing to States Parties on the Report of the Investigation into Possible Breaches of Confidentiality, 6 February 2020 6 February 2020
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Global Stakeholders Forum on the Adoption of National Implementing Legislationon the Chemical Weapons Convention, 3 December 2019 3 December 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Briefing to Non-Hague-Based Permanent Representations to the OPCW -Special Session onthe5th Phase of theOPCW Africa Programme, 14 November 2019 14 November 2019
Welcome Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Briefing by the EU Satellite Centre, 12 November 2019 12 November 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the 21st Annual Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention - Regional Group Meeting Africa, 6 November 2019 6 November 2019
Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Closing Ceremony for the Tenth annual WMD Summer Programme (Asser Institute), 4 October 2019 4 October 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Closing Ceremony of the Associate Programme, 27 September 2019 27 September 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the UN Disarmament Fellowship Programme, 16 September 2019 16 September 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the 19th Induction Workshop for Diplomatic Personnel, 12 September 2019 12 September 2019
Opening Remarks by Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono, at the Regional Pilot Workshop on National Protective Programmes against Chemical Weapons for GRULAC States Parties 9 September 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Training Course on Fulfilling Declarations and Inspections Obligations under Article VI of the Chemical Weapons Convention, 2 September 2019 2 September 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the 47th Session of the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters, 30 July 2019 30 July 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Opening Session of the Associate Programme 2019, 26 July 2019 26 July 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the Technical Workshop on Sharing of Best Practices in the Development of aLegislative and Regulatory Framework on Chemical Security, 24 July 2019 24 July 2019
Opening Remarks by the OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ms Odette Melono, at the UN HR Directors Meeting, 3 July 2019 3 July 2019
Closing remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, Ms Odette Melono at the Symposium on Women in Chemistry, 24 June 2019, The Hague, Netherlands, 24 June 2019
Twenty-Seventh Session of the Scientific Advisory Board Opening Remarks by the Deputy Director-General of the OPCW OPCW Headquarters, The Hague, The Netherlands 19 March 2018 19 March 2018
Briefing to States Parties of the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention Remarks by the Deputy Director-General, Geneva Switzerland, 5 December 2017 5 December 2017
Briefing to Permanent Representations based outside of The Hague Remarks by the Deputy Director-General, Brussels, Belgium, 10 November 2017 10 November 2017
Ensuring Chemistry is Used Exclusively for the Benefit of Humankind Remarks by the Deputy Director-General Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico , 6 November 2017 6 November 2017
Regional Table Top Exercise on Chemical Emergency Response for GRULAC States Parties Remarks by the Deputy Director-General Mexico City, Mexico, 6 November 2017 6 November 2017
Seventeenth Induction Workshop for Diplomatic Personnel Involved in the Work of the OPCW Closing remarks by Deputy Director-General H.E. Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao The Hague, the Netherlands 29 September 2017 29 September 2017
Ceremony marking the closure of Kizner Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, Deputy Director-General, OPCW Udmurt Republic, Russian Federation 27 September 2017 27 September 2017
Speech at Eighth Annual Summer Programme on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) - Asser Institute 8 September 2017
UN Disarmament Fellowship Programme Visit to the OPCW Closing Remarks by Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, OPCW Deputy Director-General The Hague, 4 September 2017 4 September 2017
Opening Remarks of the 2017 Associate Programme (Eighteenth Edition) by Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, Deputy Director-General 28 July 2017
Seventeenth Workshop on Coordination of Assistance and Protection under Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention - Remarks by the Deputy Director-General 28 June 2017
Training-of-Trainers Course on technical aspects of the CWC Transfers Regime for representatives of Customs Training Institutions Opening remarks by the Deputy Director-General 20 June 2017 20 June 2017
Special event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Opening remarks by Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, Deputy Director-General, OPCW 31 May 2017 Zagreb, Croatia 31 May 2017
Keynote Address: International Conference on Chemical Disarmament and Security: OPCW's Contribution to Global Peace and Security Doha, Qatar 10 April 2017 10 April 2017
“Navruz – the holiday of spring, renewal and peace in Uzbekistan” The Hague, 23 March 2017 23 March 2017
Launching Event on the Report on Needs and Best Practices on Chemical Safety and Security Opening Remarks by Amb. Hamid Ali Rao, Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, the Hague, 30 November 30 November 2016
Workshop on Article XI of the Chemical Weapons Convention Opening Remarks by Amb. Hamid Ali Rao, Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, The Hague, 22 November 2016 22 November 2016
Briefing to Permanent Representations based outside of The Hague Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, OPCW Deputy Director-General Brussels, Belgium 10 November 2016 10 November 2016
Preventing the Re‐Emergence of Chemical Weapons: Lessons for Non‐Proliferation - Keynote Speech at the Opening of the Asser Summer Programme 5 September 2016
Remarks to Formal Open Consultations of the Committee on the 2016 Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of Resolution 1540 21 June 2016
Remarks to Seminar on Chemical Trade: Current Practices and Challenges, Rizhao City, Shandong Province, China 16 June 2016
Statement at the Global Summit on Chemical Safety and Security (CHEMSS 2016) 18 April 2016
Remarks at the Closure of Shchuchye Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility, Kurganskaya Oblast, Russian Federation 20 November 2015
Remarks by Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, OPCW Deputy Director-General, on the Remembrance Armistice Day 11 November 2015
Briefing to Non-Residential Permanent Representations delivered by Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, OPCW Deputy Director-General 5 November 2015
UNGA First Committee: Exchange with the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and other High-Level Officials “Increasing Capacities to Address Weapons of Mass Destruction” 19 October 2015
Introductory Remarks delivered by Deputy Director-General OPCW at the Briefing on outcome and next steps of the Workshop on Ethical Guidelines for the Practice of Chemistry under the Norms of the CWC 18 September 2015
Opening statement to the Twenty-Second Session of the OPCW’s Scientific Advisory Board delivered by the Deputy Director-General 8 June 2015
Opening Remarks at the 13th Annual Meeting of National Authorities in Asia 5 May 2015
Chemical Weapons: From Ypres to Aleppo - Statement by OPCW Deputy Director-General at the Royal Higher Institute for Defence in Belgium 22 April 2015
From Proliferation to Prohibition: Taking Stock at a Century of Chemical Weapons, Ieper 22 April 2015 22 April 2015
Deputy Director-General briefing for non-residential Permanent Representatives to the OPCW 19 November 2014
Opening Remarks by OPCW Deputy Director General at the European International Model United Nations (TEIMUN) 2014 21 July 2014
Opening Remarks by OPCW Deputy Director-General at the 12th Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Asia 16 July 2014
Statement by Ambassador Grace Asirwatham OPCW Deputy Director-General at The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) 26 January 2014
New Opportunities for Chemical Disarmament in the Middle East: Remarks at the Amman Security Colloquium 13 November 2013
Deputy Director-General's Speech at the 60th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs 2 November 2013
Statement by Ambassador Grace Asirwatham OPCW Deputy Director-General at the Fourteenth Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Latin America and the Caribbean 25 June 2013
Deputy Director-General's Remarks at the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction 10 December 2012
Statement by Deputy Director-General Grace Asirwatham at the Commemoration of the 94th Anniversary of the End of the First World War 11 November 2012
Statement to the United Nations General Assembly First Committee: Exchange with the High Representative and Other High-Level Officials in the Field of Arms Control and Disarmament 15 October 2012
Opening Remarks by Mrs Grace Asirwatham, Deputy Director-General of the OPCW, at the Opening Session of the Workshop on Article XI for the Asia Region 3 September 2012
Opening Remarks: First Advanced Regional Assistance and Protection Course on Chemical Emergency Response for States Parties in Latin America and the Caribbean 16 April 2012
Opening Remarks Lions Day - March 2012 10 March 2012
Address to the Seventh Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention 6 December 2011
Opening Remarks by Mrs Grace Asirwatham, Deputy Director-General at a Regional Workshop for States Parties in Asia on Assistance and Protection against Chemical Weapons Xi’an, China 15 June 2011
Opening Remarks by Ambassador Grace Asirwatham, at the Kizner CWDF Opening Ceremony

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