Hans Blix Reports on WMD Dangers and Solutions

Arms Control Association Press Briefing

in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and
the American Bar Association Section of International Law Task Force on Nuclear Nonproliferation

Wednesday, June 7, 2006
8:30 - 10:30 A.M.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1779 Massachusetts, Ave., NW
Washington, DC

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF EVENT

In December 2003, the Swedish government launched the international, independent WMD Commission under the leadership of Dr. Hans Blix to explore ways to reduce threats posed by biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. After more than two years of work, Dr. Blix will present the commission’s final report June 1 to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Dr. Blix will make his first visit to Washington to share the commission's findings and recommendations at this June 7 event. A trio of WMD experts (see below) will provide their analysis and perspectives on the report and its recommendations.

Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Hans Blix, Chairman of the WMD Commission and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission in Iraq.

Discussants:

Robert Einhorn, Senior Advisor, International Security Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. His last position in a nearly 30-year U.S. government career was as Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation. In 2001, he was awarded the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Jonathan Tucker, Senior Fellow, Monterey Institute's Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). Prior to joining CNS in 1996, he worked on chemical and biological weapons issues at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Tucker recently published War of Nerves: Chemical Warfare from World War I to al-Qaeda.

Dr. John Burroughs, Executive Director, Lawyer's Committee on Nuclear Policy (LCNP). He is a specialist on treaty regimes and international law and was the nongovernmental legal coordinator at the nuclear weapons hearings at the International Court of Justice. Burroughs recently co-edited Rule of Power or Rule of Law?

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The Arms Control Association (ACA) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting effective arms control policies. ACA publishes the monthly journal Arms Control Today.