Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
I welcome you all to the 27th Annual Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
I am pleased that we have over 200 participants from more than 140 countries, representing all geographical regions.
This impressive turnout reflects the continued commitment and active engagement of States Parties.
It fosters collaboration and dialogue, and reinforces the foundation for achieving our shared objective: a world forever free of chemical weapons.
This meeting offers a unique opportunity to reaffirm our collective responsibility.
In today’s degrading international environment where global security is marked by mounting pressure and geopolitical tensions, the OPCW’s mission is now more relevant than ever.
Distinguished participants,
Since its inception in 1997, the OPCW has been successful in many fields, which reflects the collective commitment of its Member States.
In July 2023, the Secretariat verified the destruction of the last declared stockpiled chemical munition.
However, significant tasks remain.
Chief among these is preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons, which requires continuous effort and attention.
We are witnessing a growing number of allegations of chemical weapons use in conflicts around the globe.
One of the most challenging issues for the OPCW in recent years has been the Syrian chemical weapons dossier.
We now know that the former Syrian authorities did not declare the full extent of their chemical weapons stockpile.
The former Syrian regime continuously, but unsuccessfully, tried to hamper the work of the Secretariat and to mislead us as to the extent of their secret chemical weapons programme.
Since the fall of the Assad regime in December last year, the Secretariat has been working to assist the new Syrian authorities in the implementation of Syria’s obligations deriving from the Chemical Weapons Convention, relevant decisions of the Policy-Making Organs and resolutions of the UN Security Council.
I recall that the stringent verification measures put in place in September 2013 in Syria, through United Nations Security Council resolution 2118 and decisions by the OPCW Executive Council, remain valid, as the legal framework to address this chemical weapons dossier.
On 8 February 2025 I visited Damascus and had a bilateral meeting with President al-Sharaa, and another one with the Minister of Foreign Affairs al‑Shaibani.
Both expressed Syria’s commitment to fulfil its legal obligations, and to closely cooperate with the Secretariat.
Since my visit, the Secretariat has been intensifying its engagement with the new Syrian authorities.
Currently the priority is to identify, declare and destroy any undeclared chemical weapons, as well as other components of the clandestine chemical weapons programme, left behind by the Assad government.
This is the responsibility of Syria.
The Secretariat, for its part, must verify the declaration and the destruction, and to provide Syria with technical advice, guidance and expertise.
This task is at the core of the Convention, as it relates to the verified destruction of chemical weapons-related items, the risk of proliferation, and international peace and security.
Ensuring the complete elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme is a collective responsibility for the international community.
I seize this opportunity to call on all States Parties to the Convention, to consider providing Syria, and the Secretariat with the necessary resources and technical capabilities, to ensure their success.
Distinguished participants,
Full implementation of the Convention by all States Parties is essential.
This meeting provides an opportunity to share insights and practical experiences on strengthening national implementation.
By exchanging views, knowledge, and best practices, we can reinforce our collective efforts.
This year’s discussions will focus on three key areas:
- Strengthening national implementation frameworks, including legislative and enforcement measures, under Article VII;
- Enhancing cooperation among National Authorities, the Secretariat, and partners to support capacity-building, verification, and assistance; and
- Reinforcing penal provisions and accountability mechanisms, to prevent and address activities prohibited by the Convention.
Equally important will be our exchanges
- on building national and regional capacity for preventing the illicit transfer of toxic chemicals, and
- on exploring the impact of emerging technologies, on chemical safety, chemical security, and non-proliferation.
In this respect, special attention must be devoted to AI.
Rapid advances in science and technology have the potential to bring numerous benefits to the work of the Organisation.
AI could, for example, be used to predict the development of toxic chemicals and their production methods for the benefit of the pharmaceutical industry.
At the same time, in the wrong hands, this capability could assist with the design, development and production of new chemical warfare agents, that could circumvent or undermine the OPCW’s verification regime.
The Secretariat has been exploring the impact of AI, and the need to exploit the opportunities it offers, while mitigating risks.
Last year I set up a Temporary Working Group on AI under the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which has already issued two reports, with a third to be issued shortly.
The Group will complete its mandate at the end of the year and issue its final report early in 2026.
In June last year, the German Federal Foreign Office organised in Berlin a Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Weapons of Mass Destruction, where I had the honour to be the keynote speaker.
Also last year, this time in October, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Secretariat co-organised a world-class conference related to AI in Rabat.
Based on the outcome of the Rabat conference, in June this year, China and the Secretariat co-organised the first capacity-building workshop on AI and chemical safety and security management in Shanghai.
The Secretariat will continue to build on these efforts and explore new ways in which AI can strengthen the implementation of the Convention.
We stand ready to assist States Parties in building capacity for preventing and responding to incidents involving chemical weapons.
The Centre for Chemistry and Technology remains a fundamental platform for enhancing the Organisation’s scientific and technological preparedness.
With its cutting-edge Laboratory and Technology and Training Hub, with enhanced equipment and capabilities, the Centre enables us to maximise the benefits of technological advancements, in strengthening capacity-building for States Parties.
The capabilities of the Centre for Chemistry and Technology have already allowed us to host 20 capacity-building activities there in 2025.
These activities have covered a wide range of areas, including
- customs training,
- chemical safety and security,
- laboratory capacity development, and
- assistance and protection, benefiting participants from all regions.
Distinguished participants,
National implementing legislation is essential in ensuring that the Convention provides protection against chemical weapons.
The Philippines, Samoa and the Marshall Islands reported on the adoption of comprehensive implementing legislation this year, bringing the total number of States Parties with all initial measures in place to 131 out of 193 Member States.
While this shows progress, there are still 36 States Parties with legislation covering only some of the initial measures, and, even more concerning, 26 States Parties that do not have any implementing legislation at all.
The Secretariat continues to provide tailored support to assist these States Parties in advancing their national legislation.
Several of these States have draft bills, currently under consideration by their governments or parliaments.
This year, the Secretariat organised National Legislative Review Forums with Sao Tome and Principe, Namibia, and Trinidad and Tobago and helped them to define their next steps.
During this meeting, some of these States Parties will share their experiences and approaches to overcoming obstacles in national implementation.
Distinguished participants,
Another key area of discussion during this meeting will be the importance of ensuring efficient cooperation between the different authorities involved in national implementation.
The rapid growth of the global chemical industry in size and complexity, together with the increase in international trade volumes, requires closer collaboration among chemical industry stakeholders, distributors, and customs authorities.
The vital role of customs officials will be discussed in detail during the meeting, along with relevant Convention-related trends and challenges.
The increasing global trade in chemicals also enhances the complexity of States Parties’ reporting obligations with respect to the import and export of scheduled chemicals.
To address the persistently high number of transfer discrepancies, the Secretariat conducted four regional workshops between 2024 and 2025, to discuss experience and best practices for the prevention and resolution of such discrepancies.
We will share consolidated best practices in 2026, to further strengthen the reporting declaration capacity of National Authorities in compliance with Article VI and the Verification Annex to the Convention.
Distinguished participants,
The Secretariat remains committed to addressing States Parties’ needs in accordance with its mandate.
This meeting is expected to:
- reaffirm the commitment to cooperate between the Secretariat and States Parties;
- generate practical recommendations to strengthen national implementation and enforcement of the Convention; and
- build on the outcomes of the five Regional Meetings of National Authorities held in 2025.
- We also look forward to deepening collaboration with international and regional partners, building momentum for collective progress in 2026 and beyond.
I extend my sincere appreciation to the experts and partner organisations that have joined us for this meeting, including the 1540 Committee, INTERPOL, EUROPOL, UNICRI, and the Asser Institute.
Their participation enriches our dialogue and reinforces the cooperative spirit that underpins the success of this forum.
We will continue to listen carefully and seek feedback from all stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of our cooperation and assistance programme.
I urge you to engage actively in the discussions over the next few days, to generate actionable insights, and meaningful recommendations.
I thank you for your attention and wish you a productive meeting.