Press releases

  • Trans-loading of Syrian chemicals to be undertaken at port of Gioia Tuaro in Italy
    20 Mar 2014 - 16 January 2014 - The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, confirmed today that the Italian Government has agreed to allow the port of Gioia Tuaro for priority chemicals brought from Syria by cargo vessels to be trans-loaded onto a U.S. ship, the MV Cape Ray. The port is located on the Mediterranean coast of southern Italy and is specialised in transhipment activities.
  • Germany to Destroy Effluent from Syrian Chemicals
    20 Mar 2014 - 9 January 2014 - The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has confirmed to the OPCW that it will dispose of 370 metric tonnes of effluent to be generated by the hydrolysis of Syria’s stock of mustard gas aboard the U.S. vessel MV Cape Ray. It was stated that the effluent will be incinerated at a specialised German government facility while adhering to the highest safety and environmental standards.
  • Removal of priority chemicals in Syria marks “important new phase” in work of Joint Mission
    20 Mar 2014 - 8 January 2014 - The Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü informed the OPCW Executive Council today about the commencement of the removal of priority chemicals from Syria for destruction outside the country and described it as “an important new phase” in the work of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission.
  • First priority chemicals in Syria transported to Latakia and removed from the country
    20 Mar 2014 - 7 January 2013 - The removal of the first consignment of priority chemicals from the Syrian Arab Republic took place today. The chemicals were transported from two sites and loaded onto a Danish vessel which left the port of Lattakia. The operation was assisted and verified by the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria.
  • Special Coordinator on the first removal of chemical weapons material from Syria
    20 Mar 2014 - 7 January 2013 – The Joint Mission confirms that further progress has been made towards the removal and elimination of the Syrian Arab Republic's chemical weapons programme. A first quantity of priority chemical materials was moved from two sites to the port of Lattakia for verification and was then loaded onto a Danish commercial vessel today.
  • Special Coordinator expresses gratitude to the Government of Cyprus
    20 Mar 2014 - 27 December 2013 -The Special Coordinator of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission, Ms. Sigrid A. Kaag met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides and expressed her gratitude for the support that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus continues to provide to the Joint Mission.
  • OPCW Executive Council receives destruction plan for Syrian chemical weapons
    20 Mar 2014 - 18 December 2013 - As requested by the OPCW Executive Council, Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü yesterday submitted to the Council a plan for destroying the Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons outside of the country. The plan aims to meet a deadline set by the Council to destroy Syria’s priority chemicals by 31 March 2014 and other mostly commodity chemicals by 30 June 2014.
  • OPCW Director-General visits Sweden, meets Prime Minister
    20 Mar 2014 - 14 December 2013 - During a two-day visit to Sweden that concluded today, Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü had separate meetings with the Prime Minister, Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt, and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Bildt.
  • OPCW Director-General holds official meetings with Norwegian Ministers and Parliamentarians
    20 Mar 2014 - 11 December 2013 - OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü this morning met in Oslo with the Norwegian Prime Minister, Ms Erna Solberg, and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Borge Brende. He updated them on the work of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria and discussed options for Norway’s involvement in efforts to eliminate the Syrian chemicals weapons programme.
  • Nobel Peace Prize 2013 received by OPCW Director-General
    20 Mar 2014 - 10 December 2013 - Ahmet Üzümcü commends practical, verifiable results of chemical disarmament. - Says that partnerships with science, industry and civil society are key. - Urges states outside the Chemical Weapons Convention to join. - Announces that Prize money will be used to fund annual OPCW awards. Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü this afternoon accepted the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

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