WASHINGTON (AP) The White House is congratulating the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and is praising the group's effort to end chemical warfare in Syria.
White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Friday that the award reinforces the world's commitment to a prohibition against the use of chemical weapons.
Carney says the U.S. strongly supports the organization's work to ensure Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles are ultimately destroyed.
President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.
It had been widely expected this year's prize would go to the 16-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban for championing education for girls. Carney says Obama also joins the world in honoring the courage of Malala Yousafzai.