Today at Columbia University, Hans Blix shared his optimistic view of the non-use of armed force as an evolving norm. On the other hand, he shared the conviction that global warming is as great an existential threat to human existence as the potential for nuclear disaster. The Former Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Executive Chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission in Iraq also warned about armed intervention with Iran. He said, “The U.S. attacked Iraq for weapons that did not exist. The U.S. could attack Iran for intentions that may or may not exist.”
During our time of dialogue, Blix offered a very positive view of nuclear power. He didn’t rule out alternative fuels, but he sees great advantages for nuclear power over fossil fuels and believes that nuclear technology is becoming safer and supports the development of new reactors with safer processes.
He was as Professor Richard Gardner described him: "A very disarming personality."
Here are a few past quotes from Han Blix:
"On big issues like war in Iraq, but in many other issues they simply must be multilateral. There's no other way around. You have the instances like the global warming convention, the Kyoto protocol, when the U.S. went its own way."
"Look at the Palestinians with the huge, huge percentage of unemployed. What does that breed? Anyone who's unemployed in the world, you feel there's no meaning and there's a risk that you drift over to something desperate. Yes, we have to tackle the social problems as well."
