This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/world/chemical-weapons-watchdog-wins-nobel-peace-prize.html

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Chemical Weapons Watchdog Wins Nobel Peace Prize Chemical Weapons Watchdog Wins Nobel Peace Prize
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — Urging the destruction of “an entire category” of unconventional weapons, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded its 2013 Peace Prize on Friday to a relatively modest and little-known United Nations-backed body that has drawn sudden attention with a mission to destroy Syria’s stocks of chemical arms under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States. LONDON — Urging the destruction of an “entire category” of unconventional weapons, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded its 2013 Peace Prize on Friday to a relatively modest and little-known United Nations-backed body that has drawn sudden attention with a mission to destroy Syria’s stocks of chemical arms under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States.
The award to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, usually known by its initials O.P.C.W., took some Nobel-watchers by surprise partly because of the unprecedented nature of its current task: seeking to dismantle a previously secret chemical weapons program quickly in the midst of a raging civil war. The award to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based in The Hague, took some Nobel watchers by surprise partly because of the unprecedented nature of its current task: dismantling a previously secret chemical weapons program quickly amid a raging civil war.
Among diplomats, the prize was seen as capping a startling rise to prominence for an organization that has worked in relative obscurity. Some Syrians, however, took strong exception to the idea of lauding chemical weapons watchdogs when by far the bulk of the more than 100,000 fatalities in Syria’s civil war have been caused by conventional weapons such as airstrikes, artillery and rocket fire. “We were aware that our work silently but surely was contributing to peace in the world,” Ahemt Uzumcu, the director general of the organization, told reporters in The Hague after the award was announced. "The last few weeks have brought this to the fore. The entire international community has been made aware of our work.”
Despite the drama of its task, the O.P.C.W. had not been widely tipped as a likely winner. On the contrary, in the days leading up to the award, much attention had focused on individual candidates including Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani student who risked her life to campaign for female education and whose name was circulating as the potentially youngest-ever recipient. Among diplomats, the prize was seen as the high point of a startling rise to prominence for an organization that has worked in relative obscurity. Some Syrians, however, took strong exception to the idea of lauding chemical weapons watchdogs when the bulk of the more than 100,000 fatalities in Syria’s civil war have been caused by conventional weapons, like airstrikes, artillery and rocket fire.
In its citation, the committee said the O.P.C.W. and the conventions under which it was founded in 1997 “have defined the use of chemical weapons as a taboo under international law. Recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons have again been put to use, have underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons.” Despite the urgency and danger of its task, the organization had not been tapped as a likely winner. Iin the days leading up to the award, much attention had focused on individual candidates, including Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani student who risked her life to campaign for girls' education and would have been the youngest recipient ever.
In its citation, the committee said the organization and the treaty under which it was founded in 1997 “have defined the use of chemical weapons as a taboo under international law.”
“Recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons have again been put to use, have underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons.”
It was the second successive year that the panel, based in Oslo, chose an organization for its accolade. The European Union won the 2012 prize.It was the second successive year that the panel, based in Oslo, chose an organization for its accolade. The European Union won the 2012 prize.
Inspectors from the 189-member O.P.C.W. began arriving in Syria early this month after a chemical weapons attack on the outskirts of Damascus on Aug. 21 killed hundreds of people. Under the Russian-American agreement, Syria is scheduled to become the 190th member of the organization in coming days. Inspectors from the 189-member group began arriving in Syria early this month after a chemical weapons attack that has been strongly linked to the Syrian government killed hundreds of people in the outskirts of Damascus, the Syrian capital, on Aug. 21. Under the Russian-American agreement, Syria is scheduled to become the 190th member of the organization in coming days.
The chemical attack outside Damascus initially drew an American threat of military reprisal before Moscow and Washington reached a compromise arrangement to seek the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons stocks under international supervision. The attack initially drew an American threat of military reprisal before Moscow and Washington reached a compromise arrangement to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons stocks under international supervision.
Thorbjorn Jagland, the former Norwegian prime minister who is chairman of the panel, said chemical weapons had been used by Hitler’s armies in their campaign of mass extermination and on many other occasions by states and terrorists. He denied that the award to a body based in The Hague represented a Eurocentric shift after last year’s award to the European Union. “It’s global,” he said. Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the last president of the Soviet Union and the winner of the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize, hailed the award. “O.P.C.W. has worked tirelessly to rid the world of chemical weapons, and the organization is a deserved winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,” Mr. Gorbachev said in a statement issued by Green Cross International, a Geneva-based advocacy group he founded that has collaborated closely with the chemical weapons watchdog.
The organization’s mission is act as a watchdog implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention, which came into force in 1997 with four aims: to seek the destruction of all chemical weapons under international verification; to prevent the creation of new chemical weapons; to help countries protect themselves against chemical attack; and to foster international cooperation in the peaceful use of chemistry. Thorbjorn Jagland, the former Norwegian prime minister who is chairman of the Nobel Committee, said chemical weapons had been used by Hitler’s armies in their campaign of mass extermination and on many other occasions by states and terrorists. He denied suggestions that the award to a body based in The Hague represented a Eurocentric shift after last year’s award to the European Union. “It’s global,” he said.
The body has a technical staff of around 500, according to its Web site, and an annual budget of around $100 million. Its members cover “98 percent of the global population land mass, as well as 98 percent of the worldwide chemical industry.” The organization’s mission is to act as a watchdog in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention, which came into force in 1997 with four aims: to destroy all chemical weapons under international verification; to prevent the creation of new chemical weapons; to help countries protect themselves against chemical attack; and to foster international cooperation in the peaceful use of chemistry.
Since its creation, the organization has sent experts to carry out some 5,000 inspections in 86 countries, working discreetly, almost shunning publicity, with the small number of signatory countries that acknowledge possessing chemical weapons. By far the biggest of these are Russia and the United States. Countries that have not signed but are believe to have chemical arsenals include Egypt, Israel, Angola, South Sudan, Myanmar and North Korea. The body has a technical staff of around 500, according to its Web site, and an annual budget of around $100 million. Its members cover 98 percent of the global population land mass, as well as 98 percent of the worldwide chemical industry, it says.
Although it attracted some notice when it sent experts to tackle former Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi’s chemical arms, nothing had prepared the O.P.C.W. for its mission in Syria. Since its creation, the organization has sent experts to carry out 5,000 inspections in 86 countries, working discreetly, almost shunning publicity, with the small number of signatory countries that acknowledge possessing chemical weapons. By far the biggest of these are Russia and the United States. Four countries besides Syria have not yet signed or ratified the treaty: Egypt, Angola, South Sudan and North Korea. Israel and Myanmar have signed the treaty but their state governments have not ratified it.
The operation is unparalleled in terms of both the stringent and extremely tight deadlines set by the United Nations Security Council, which has called for the destruction of Syria’s arsenal by mid-2014, and for the extreme hazards implicit in trying to neutralize dangerous toxins in the middle of intense and violent conflict. Although it attracted some notice when it sent experts to tackle the chemical arms held by Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, the Libyan leader, nothing had prepared the organization for its mission in Syria.
Apart from Ms. Yousafzai, another front-runner was said to have been Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist who has treated rape victims in the long-running conflict in his native Congo. The operation is unparalleled in both its urgency and its hazards. The United Nations Security Council has set extremely tight deadlines for the mission, calling for the destruction of Syria’s arsenal of dangerous toxins by mid-2014 in the middle of an intense and violent conflict.
The award is worth $1.25 million and will be presented on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of its founder, the Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who established the prize in 1895 in his will. It was the 94th to be awarded since his death. The Nobel nominees are shrouded in secrecy. Apart from Ms. Yousafzai, another front-runner was said to have been Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist who has treated rape victims in the long-running conflict in his native Democratic Republic of Congo.
While much attention is focused on Syria’s chemical weapons stocks, the Nobel committee noted pointedly that other countries — including the United States and Russia — had not dismantled their chemical arsenals. The award of $1.25 million will be presented on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of its founder, the Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who established the prize in 1895 in his will. It was the 94th to be awarded since his death.
“Certain states have not observed the deadline, which was April 2012, for destroying their chemical weapons. This applies especially to the U.S.A. and Russia,” the committee said. While much attention is focused on Syria’s chemical weapons stocks, the Nobel Committee noted pointedly that other countries — including the United States and Russia — had not dismantled their chemical arsenals.
“Disarmament figures prominently in Alfred Nobel’s will. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has through numerous prizes underlined the need to do away with nuclear weapons,” the committee said. “By means of the present award to the O.P.C.W., the Committee is seeking to contribute to the elimination of chemical weapons.” “Certain states have not observed the deadline, which was April 2012, for destroying their chemical weapons,” the committee said. “This applies especially to the U.S.A. and Russia.”
Mr. Jagland said that the award would remind nations holding major stocks of chemical weapons, such as the United States and Russia, to destroy them, “especially because they are demanding that others do the same, like Syria.” “Disarmament figures prominently in Alfred Nobel’s will. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has through numerous prizes underlined the need to do away with nuclear weapons,” the committee added. “By means of the present award to the O.P.C.W., the committee is seeking to contribute to the elimination of chemical weapons.”
“We now have the opportunity to get rid of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction,” he said. “That would be a great event in history if we could achieve that.” Mr. Jagland said the award would remind nations holding major stocks of chemical weapons to destroy them, “especially because they are demanding that others do the same, like Syria.”
At its headquarters in The Hague, the O.P.C.W.'s director general, Ahmet Uzumcu, told Norway’s public broadcaster NRK that the award was “an acknowledgment of our staff’s efforts, who are now deployed in Syria, who have been, in fact, making a very brave effort there to fulfill their mandate.” Some analysts said the award enabled the Nobel Committee to evoke the civil war in Syria without directly taking sides.
Some analysts said the award enabled the Nobel committee to evoke the civil war in Syria without directly taking sides. United Nations inspectors who examined the site of chemical weapons attacks outside Damascus in August did not specify which side was responsible. Many Western experts and governments have blamed Syrian forces, while President Bashar al-Assad has accused rebels trying to overthrow him.
United Nations inspectors who examined the site of chemical weapons attacks outside Damascus in August did not specify which side was responsible. Many Western experts and governments blamed Syrian forces while President Bashar al-Assad accused his foes in the conflict, which has claimed more than 100,000 lives since it began as a civilian revolt in March 2011.
The official Syrian state news agency offered no immediate comment on the award. But the online reaction from many Syrians and others following the Syrian conflict was swift and outraged.The official Syrian state news agency offered no immediate comment on the award. But the online reaction from many Syrians and others following the Syrian conflict was swift and outraged.
At best, many compared the award to the peace prizen given to President Obama in 2009 when he had only recently taken office – more of a vote for future success than a reward for solid achievements. At worst, critics said that the decision was a travesty, given that Syrians across the political spectrum consider the chemical weapons issue a sideshow in a war that has killed more than 100,000 people, almost all of them with conventional weapons. At best, many compared the motivations behind the award to those behind the awarding of the Peace Prize to President Obama in 2009 when he had only recently taken office: as an expression of hope for future success rather than a reward for solid achievements. At worst, critics said the decision was a travesty, given that Syrians across the political spectrum consider the chemical weapons issue a sideshow in a war that has killed more than 100,000 people, almost all with conventional weapons. since it began as a civilian revolt in March 2011.
Anti-government protesters in the northern Syrian town of Kafranbel, who have made a name for themselves with their witty, English-captioned posters and slogans reacting in real time, posted a quick response. Antigovernment protesters in the northern Syrian town of Kafranbel, who have made a name for themselves with their witty, English-captioned posters and slogans reacting in real time, posted a quick response.
Young men held a drawing that showed bombs falling, smoke rising over towns and corpses lying in blood, and, in the center of it all, a blue-helmeted United Nations worker triumphantly holding a wrench over a dismantled chemical warhead. Off to the side, an arm labeled “U.S.A.” gives the thumbs-up signal.Young men held a drawing that showed bombs falling, smoke rising over towns and corpses lying in blood, and, in the center of it all, a blue-helmeted United Nations worker triumphantly holding a wrench over a dismantled chemical warhead. Off to the side, an arm labeled “U.S.A.” gives the thumbs-up signal.
The Nobel announcement played into a tangle of regional and international rivalries.The Nobel announcement played into a tangle of regional and international rivalries.
Speaking in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov said Russia, President Assad’s biggest international sponsor, would insist that the transfer of Syria’s chemical weapons to international control would take place according to schedule. But he accused other countries, some neighboring Syria, of trying to derail the initiative. Speaking in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov said Russia, President Assad’s biggest international sponsor, insisted that the transfer of Syria’s chemical weapons to international control take place according to schedule. But he accused other countries, some neighboring Syria, of trying to derail the initiative.
The responsibility for the process is held, he said, “not only by the Syrian government, but by all the other sides in Syria, by the entire opposition, and also by other countries. Above all, those countries that neighbor Syria, and which are forbidden to use their territory for any games with chemical weapons.”The responsibility for the process is held, he said, “not only by the Syrian government, but by all the other sides in Syria, by the entire opposition, and also by other countries. Above all, those countries that neighbor Syria, and which are forbidden to use their territory for any games with chemical weapons.”

Repporting was contributed by Nick Cumming-Bruce in Geneva, Anne Barnard in Beirut, Lebanon, and Andrew Roth from Moscow.

Reporting was contributed by Nick Cumming-Bruce from Geneva; Anne Barnard from Beirut, Lebanon; Andrew Roth from Moscow; and Andrew Higgins from Brussels.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: October 11, 2013Correction: October 11, 2013

An earlier version of this article misstated the date that the Nobel Peace Prize will be presented. The award will be presented on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel. It was not presented on Friday.

An earlier version of this article misstated the date that the Nobel Peace Prize will be presented. The award will be presented on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel. It was not presented on Friday.