Press releases

  • OPCW receives tenders from 14 private firms to destroy Syrian commodity chemicals and effluents
    20 Mar 2014 - 20 January 2014 - A total of 14 private firms have submitted tenders to destroy 500 metric tonnes of Syria’s commodity chemicals, as well as effluent from the neutralisation of its Priority chemicals, at commercial facilities outside of the Syrian Arab Republic.
  • Special Coordinator of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission holds consultations in Riyadh
    20 Mar 2014 - 16 January 2014 - Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator for the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria held consultations in Riyadh with the Government of Saudi Arabia, including His Highness Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs.
  • 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.
  • Executive Council notes “increasing pace” in moving chemicals out of Syria
    20 Mar 2014 - 7 March 2014 - OPCW-UN Joint Mission verifies nearly 29% of total chemical stockpile has been removed The Executive Council concluded its 75th Session today with a consensus report that "positively noted" the progress that has been made with respect to eliminating the Syrian chemical weapons programme, and also noted delays that have occurred about which concerns were expressed.
  • 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.

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