Morocco's Leadership in Chemical Weapons Disarmament
During the 112th session of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), held from July 7 to 10, 2026, in The Hague, Morocco expressed its unwavering commitment to the global disarmament architecture. The Moroccan delegation, led by His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Basri, highlighted the importance of maintaining unity and enhancing the effectiveness of the OPCW in the current international context. The delegation extended its sincere appreciation for the exceptional work of the outgoing Chairman of the Executive Council, Mr. Thomas Schieb, and commended the professionalism of the Director-General, Mr. Fernando Arias, as well as Deputy Director-General, Ms. Odette Melono.
In its statement, Morocco strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances. The Moroccan delegation expressed satisfaction with the tangible progress made in addressing the Syrian chemical weapons dossier, emphasizing the collaborative efforts between the Technical Secretariat and the Syrian government to close this file while adhering to the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Support for Africa's Chemical Safety Initiatives
Furthermore, the Moroccan delegation welcomed the launch of the seventh phase of the Africa Programme in January 2026, urging for more stable and sustainable funding for the initiative. Morocco reiterated its commitment to sharing its expertise through mentorship programs with African countries expressing interest. The delegation also acknowledged the importance of laboratory twinning programs and thanked the United States and Brazil for their ongoing initiatives, as well as Germany for its financial support.
In addressing the issue of chemical terrorism, Morocco called for intensified efforts to combat this threat in all its forms, advocating for vigilant monitoring of technological advancements, particularly in drone systems and the protection of strategic infrastructure databases. The Moroccan delegation commended the work of the chemical terrorism working group led by South Africa's Permanent Representative, Mr. Vusimuzi Madonsela.
Moreover, Morocco stressed the significance of emerging technologies and the necessity for the OPCW to develop a comprehensive strategy that encompasses their applications, specifically artificial intelligence. This call for action is supported by the conclusions from the first Global Conference on AI's role in enhancing the implementation of the Convention, held in Rabat in October 2024, alongside other workshops and summits organized in collaboration with the OPCW Technical Secretariat.
This 112th session is particularly significant as it marks the end of the term for Mr. Fernando Arias and Ms. Odette Melono. The Moroccan delegation expressed profound gratitude for their tireless efforts, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the organization and the implementation of the Convention, wishing them success in future endeavors.
As reported by opcw.org.
