UN Reform and World Disarmament – Where do we go?

The Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture 2005
Given by Hans Blix, Former Chairman, The Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission (WMDC)

in Uppsala University Hall on Monday 19 September 2005. Followed by question-and-answer session and a performance by Allmänna sången.

Lecture in pdf-format
Also available in print,
ISBN 91-85214-43-4.

Download a brochure about the lecture in pdf-format

Seminars held in connection with this years Lecture

Dr. Hans Blix was born in 1928 in Uppsala, Sweden. He studied at the University of Uppsala; Columbia University, where he was also a research graduate; and at Cambridge University, where he received his Ph.D. In 1959, he became Doctor of Laws at the Stockholm University, and, in 1960, was appointed Associate Professor in International Law.

From 1963 to 1976, Dr. Blix served as Adviser on International Law in the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1976, he became Under-Secretary of State, in charge of international development cooperation. He was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in October 1978.

He served as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for four terms, from 1981 till 1997.

Dr. Blix has several honorary doctorates and is a recipient of a number of decorations and awards. . He is a member of the Institut de Droit International and an honorary member of the American Society of International Law.

He has written several books on subjects associated with international and constitutional law. He has further written many articles on questions relating to energy and to the problems of spread of nuclear weapons. He was the leader of the Liberal Campaign Committee in connection with the referendum on the Swedish nuclear energy programme in 1980. He published the book, “Disarming Iraq” in March 2004.

Dr. Blix was appointed Executive Chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) for Iraq by the UN Secretary-General in January 2000. He took up his duties on 1 March 2000 and left the post at the end of June 2003, with the expiry of his third contract. On his return to Sweden, the Swedish Government has asked him to form and chair an independent international commission on weapons of mass destruction (WMDC). It has held two meetings in 2004 and three in 2005 and will issue a report with recommendations by the end of 2005.

Dr. Blix lives in Stockholm and is married to Eva Kettis, formerly ambassador in charge of Arctic and Antarctic issues in the Swedish Foreign Ministry. They have two sons.