OPCW Director-General’s Introductory Remarks at the Second Meeting of the OPCW Africa Programme Stee

Introductory Remarks by the Director-General, Fernando Arias, at the Second Meeting of the OPCW Africa Programme Steering Committee As delivered on 16 November 2020, The Hague, Netherlands Mr Chairperson, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Dear colleagues, It gives me great pleasure to address the second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Africa Programme. [...] Mr Chairperson, Since the last Committee meeting on June 26th, the Secretariat has continued to deploy its best efforts to achieve progress in the implementation of the 5th Phase of the Africa programme, despite the continued restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] In the area of capacity-building, which is the backbone of the programme, the Secretariat has intensified the delivery of online training activities. [...] In addition to the aforementioned developments, the past period allowed the Secretariat to finalise the impact assessment of the capacity-building activities delivered for African participants in 2019. [...] I should like to reiterate the Secretariat’s unwavering commitment and dedication to supporting the African States Parties, and to addressing, through the Africa Programme, their needs and priorities in the context of the Convention.