Global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW wins Nobel Peace Prize

OSLO - Reuters

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director General Ahmet Üzümcü speaks during a news conference in The Hague, October 9, 2013. REUTERS/Toussaint Kluiters/United Photos

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is overseeing the destruction's of Syria's arsenal, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.

Turkish diplomat Ahmet Üzümcü has been the director general of the OPCW since July 2010.

Experts from the Hague-based global chemical weapons watchdog, supported by the United Nations, are working to destroy Syria's massive chemical weapons stockpile after a sarin gas strike in the suburbs of Damascus killed more than 1,400 people in August.

The $1.25 million prize will be presented in Oslo on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will.

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, which has a strong track record leaking the names of winners, reported the OPCW's victory more than an hour before the official announcement.

Turkish President Gül calls Üzümcü for congratulations

ISTANBUL

President Abdullah Gül personally congratulated the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ahmet Üzümcü, for his organization’s Nobel Peace Prize win.

Gül called Üzümcü, a career diplomat, over the telephone expressed his happiness for the organization’s acquisition of the award, sources from the president’s office told Anadolu Agency on Oct. 11.

Gül visited the OPCW in April during an official state visit to the Netherlands and addressed a General Assembly meeting.

Gül worked closely with Üzümcü when he was foreign minister between 2003 and 2007.