Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 goes to chemical weapons watchdog

12 Oct Big News Network

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 was Friday awarded to the global chemical weapons watchdog, putting the spotlight back on the conflict in Syria where the Hague-based organisation is working in the active war zone to help eliminate stockpiles of poisonous gas.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), however, didn't win the prize because of its Sryia work, the Nobel Peace Prize committee said in Oslo.

"It is because of its long-standing efforts to eliminate chemical weapons and that we are now about to reach the goal and do away with a whole category of weapons of mass destruction. That would be a great event in history, if we can achieve that," said Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland.Jagland said the award was a reminder to nations such as the US and Russia to eliminate their own large stockpiles, "especially because they are demanding that others do the same, like Syria"."We now have the opportunity to get rid of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction...

That would be a great event in history if we could achieve that," he said.

The United States and Russia had committed to destroying their arsenals by 2012 but have as yet failed to do so.

OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu said the prize would inspire everyone to reach for peace in Syria.