Director-General

The Director-General is the representative of the OPCW’s Member States and the highest authority in the Technical Secretariat.

The Director-General is appointed by the Conference of the States Parties, on the recommendation of the Executive Council, for a term of four years and represents the Organisation. The Director-General is responsible for ensuring the Secretariat fulfils its mandate in an efficient and cost-effective manner. He or she works to cultivate effective working relationships between the Secretariat and Member States, and promotes universal membership of the OPCW and Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Director-General reviews inspection reports, ensures the confidentiality of sensitive information provided by Member States, and ensures effective governance and leadership of the Secretariat.

H.E. Ambassador Fernando Arias

Director-General

H.E. Ambassador Fernando Arias

Resumé

  • Ambassador of Spain to the Kingdom of The Netherlands and Permanent Representative of Spain to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW (2014- 24 July 2018). Vice-President of the Executive Council (2017-2018).
  • Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations in New York, (2012 –2013).
    • Vice-President of the 68th Session of the General Assembly
    • Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (2012)
  • Minister Counsellor (Deputy Chief of Mission) at the Embassy of Spain in the P.R. of China (Beijing, 2009-2012).
  • Ambassador of Spain to Bulgaria (Sofia, 2004-2009) and Ambassador of Spain to the FYR of Macedonia (now North Macedonia), Residence in Sofia (2004-2006)
  • Director (Director General) of the Protocol Department of the Presidency of the Government (2000-2004).
  • Ambassador of Spain to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Nouakchott, 1998-2000) and Ambassador of Spain to the Republic of Mali, Residence in Nouakchott (1998-2000).
  • Minister Counsellor (Deputy Chief of Mission) at the Embassy of Spain in the Republic of Argentina (Buenos Aires, 1994-1998).
  • Minister Counsellor (Deputy Chief of Mission) at the Embassy of Spain in Mexico, (Mexico City, 1990-1994)
  • Official Mayor (Administrative Affairs, rank Deputy Director General) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain (Madrid, 1987-1990).
  • Counsellor (Deputy Chief of Mission) at the Embassy of Spain in the Republic of Romania (Bucharest, 1983-1987).
  • First Secretary and Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain in the Netherlands (The Hague, 1979-1983).

Decorations (March 1981 to July 2018)

Spanish Decorations:

  • Commander (Highest Grade), Order of King Carlos III (2004)
  • Commander, (Highest Grade) Order of Queen Isabel la Católica (12-03-2012)
  • Commander, Order of Queen Isabel la Católica (6-12-1995)
  • Official, Order of Queen Isabel la Católica (24-06-1987)
  • Commander, Order of Civil Merit (23-06-1990)
  • Official, Order of Civil Merit (23-06-1984)
  • Cross of the Spanish Police with White Distinctive (2006)

Foreign Decorations:

  • Légion d’honneur (France) 2022
  • Grand Cross, Knight, Order of Orange Nassau (The Netherlands) 2018
  • Commander, Order Orange Nassau (The Netherlands) 1984
  • Official, Order Orange Nassau (The Netherlands) 1980
  • Knight Commander with Star, Order of St. Gregory the Great (Vatican City State) 2003
  • Commander, Civil Order of Merit (Islamic Republic of Mauritania) 2000
  • Grand Cross, Order of “Mayo” (Argentina)
  • Grand Cross, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
  • Grand Cross, Order of Bernardo O’Higgins (Republic of Chile)
  • Grand Cross, Order of Honorato Vásquez (Republic of Ecuador)
  • Grand Cross, Phoenix Order (Greek Republic)
  • Grand Officer, National Orders of Merit (Federal Republic of  Germany)
  • Grand Cross, Stara Planina (Republic of Bulgaria) 2009
  • Grand Cross, Rio Branco (Federal Republic of Brazil)

Speeches and Statements

H.E. Ambassador Fernando Arias was appointed Director-General of the OPCW in December 2017 by the Conference of the States Parties at its 22nd Session. He began his four-year term of office on 25 July 2018. He was re-appointed for a second term by the 26th Session of the Conference of States Parties (25 July 2022 – 24 July 2026). Prior to his appointment as OPCW Director-General, he served as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kingdom of Spain to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and as Permanent Representative to the OPCW from 2014-2018.

Ambassador Arias has been a career diplomat since 1979 and has extensive multilateral experience regarding weapons of mass destruction as well as bilateral experience in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, North America, and South America. In the past decade, he has represented Spain at international organisations such as the OPCW and the United Nations (UN). Additionally, he also served as the Vice-President of the OPCW’s Executive Council from 2017 to 2018. At the UN, he was Spain’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative from 2012 to 2013. While at the UN, he also served as Vice-President of the 68th Session of the General Assembly and Vice President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Previously, Ambassador Arias represented Spain as Deputy Chief of Mission in the People’s Republic of China. He was also Ambassador to Bulgaria, Ambassador to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia) while in residence in Sofia, Bulgaria, Director General of the Protocol Department of the Presidency of the Spanish Government from 2000 to 2004, Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and Ambassador to the Republic of Mali. In addition to various posts held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain, he was also  Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassies of Spain in the Republic of Argentina, the United Mexican States, and the Republic of Romania. He began his diplomatic career as Secretary and Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain to the Netherlands.

Ambassador Arias was born in Madrid, Spain in 1952 and holds a degree in law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid as well as a Certificate in International Studies from the Diplomatic School in Madrid, Spain.

He speaks fluent English, French, and Spanish. He is married and has three children.

Speeches and Statements