New Haven Independent

On Monday afternoon however, Blix appeared a renewed man—relaxed and delighted to be speaking for an audience that he addressed with both gravity and humor. “Dr. Hans Blix has been one of the bravest and most judicious voices over time on the dangers posed to humanity by weapons of mass destruction,” said former President of Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo, in his introduction.

Blix’s words filled a crowded auditorium at the Yale MacMillan Center, formerly the Center for International and Area Studies, where students, faculty, and New Haven community members filled not only the seats, but the aisles and balconies as well.

As Blix took the podium, he began with a challenge. “I think that one of the most important lessons that we can learn is to maintain critical thinking of what we see, and of what we read,” he said.

Blix said that weapons proliferation is a growing threat. He described a “renewed arms race” for nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, saying that these weapons are “a threat no matter whose hands they are in.”

Blix spoke of nuclear disarmament across the world, not only in rogue states. Safety from nuclear attacks, he said, “will only come from assurance that [these weapons] do not exist. We cannot field that confidence today so long as there are many weapons about.”

He suggested that using weapons inspections to enforce treaty obligations would help in this goal.

In the case of North Korea, Blix said that negotiators should “assure [North Korea] about security and that they would be accepted in the international community” if they were to give up weapons. He continued, “[North Korea] might have to commit themselves to more than just doing away with nuclear program.”

Similarly, Blix said that North Korea’s weapons program is “linked to fears of a possible domino effect,” wherein neighboring countries like Japan might seek nuclear capabilities as well.

Blix said that the United States should reopen “diplomatic relations as gesture of friendship” in Iran. “It’s a channel of talk,” he said.

Asked by a student what citizens could do to discourage weapons of mass destruction, Blix said that passion and conviction are crucial. “But if you want to achieve something, you need also to have knowledge,” he said. “Public opinion is an important factor in democratic countries. You have to try to search for the truth, which is very difficult.”

“Good luck!” he told the student.

His own experience has been vast and varied. It was only after working as a lawyer, diplomat, and director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that Blix became the United Nation’s chief weapon’s inspector.

“He’s a very principled guy, he goes by the facts,” said Nayan Chanda, director of publications at Yale’s Center for the Study of Globalization. “I’m sure he must be pleased that it has paid off.”