Obama hails Slovakia's interest in helping destroy Syrian chemical weapons

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday welcomed Slovakia's interest in helping destroy the chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria.

Joining Vice President Joseph Biden in his meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at the White House, Obama discussed ongoing efforts on Syria and welcomed the prime minister's interest in "contributing to the international effort to destroy Syria's chemical weapons," the White House said in a statement.

Albania, seen as a possible place for destruction of Syrian chemical weapons, rejected a U.S. request to host the operation last week. The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), entrusted to oversee the destruction, is considering other options including involving private companies.

According to the OPCW, the "most critical" chemical weapons will be shipped out of Syria for destruction by Dec. 31, and the rest will be transported outside its territory no later than June 30, 2014.