On 6 June 2018, the Embassy of Sweden and the VCDNP hosted a celebration in honour of Dr. Hans Blix, Director General Emeritus of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the occasion of his 90th birthday. The event was held at the Schwedenhaus in Vienna’s ninth district, and was attended by representatives to the IAEA from the Vienna diplomatic community as well as many former staff members of the IAEA who had worked with Dr. Blix during his tenure at the helm of the IAEA between 1981 and 1997.
“If more people possessed the stamina and strong personal devotion of Hans Blix, the world would be a much better and more peaceful place.” – Ambassador Helen Eduards (Sweden)
Ambassador Helen Eduards, the Swedish Permanent Representative to the IAEA, opened the celebration with words of congratulation and highlighted how fitting the date of the celebration was given that the 6th of June is also Sweden’s National Day. Ambassador Eduards also introduced an absent friend, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, who had a very special videotaped message to Dr. Blix. The Foreign Minister summarized her regard for Dr. Blix by stating, “You are a practical scholar; you are a strategic idealist; you are a warm hearted hero, and you are also a friend and role model and will remain so for, I hope, another 100 years.”
“There are few personalities in this world who embody the concept of nuclear verification like you, Hans. You have been a guiding star to us all in the non-proliferation and disarmament community.” - Dr. Lassina Zerbo, CTBTO Executive Secretary
Laura Rockwood, Executive Director of the VCDNP, added her words of welcome, recalling her many years of service at the IAEA, which had begun under Dr. Blix’s leadership. As she noted in her remarks, Hans Blix in 1981 became only the third Director General of the IAEA, which he led during some of its most challenging moments, including: the 1986 Chernobyl accident; the nearly simultaneous demands on the IAEA in the early 1990s in mapping out and dismantling Iraq’s nuclear weapons programme, uncovering North Korea’s undeclared nuclear activities and verifying the dismantlement of South Africa’s nuclear weapons; and the dedicated years-long effort to strengthen IAEA safeguards, culminating in the adoption of the first new legal instrument for safeguards in 27 years, the Model Additional Protocol, the crowning achievement of Dr. Blix’s 16 years of service. She noted that Dr. Blix had met all of these professional challenges while balancing his personal responsibilities as a devoted husband to a fellow career diplomat, a very engaged father of two young boys and an excellent chef and host. Turning 90 is an event worth celebrating for anyone, but especially in recognition of a person who, in a city famous for its centuries of diplomacy, stands out for his steadfast contribution to international law, peace and security.
Ms. Rockwood introduced another videotaped message, this one from Roland Timerbaev, a former Soviet diplomat who played a key role in the negotiation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and who has been a close friend of Dr. Blix’s for many decades. Mr. Timerbaev also stressed the difficult times faced by the IAEA during Dr. Blix’s tenure, noting that Blix met these challenges head on and did what was necessary to strengthen the IAEA’s safeguards system and controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
“The legal documents produced under your leadership and guidance are very valuable even today.” - Yukiya Amano, Director General of the IAEA
These were followed by congratulatory remarks by the current Director General of the IAEA, Yukiya Amano, the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Dr. Lassina Zerbo and Austria’s Permanent Representative to the IAEA Ambassador Christine Stix Hackl. All of the speakers highlighted the contributions Dr. Blix had made to the city of Vienna, to the IAEA and to non-proliferation and disarmament in general. Referring to the Model Additional Protocol, Director General Amano noted that the legal instrument had been a real gift to the IAEA and that its impact was growing, with more Member States concluding additional protocols every year. Amano highlighted that “the issues change but the nature of the issues does not change”, noting that the legal documents produced under Dr. Blix’s leadership and guidance were valid, even today.” Dr. Zerbo highlighted how energetic and active Dr. Blix is in the CTBTO’s Group of Eminent Persons, noting that, given Dr. Blix’s youthful energy, he was almost prepared to invite Dr. Blix to join the CTBTO Youth Group. Ambassador Stix-Hackl concluded the formal congratulatory remarks by stressing Dr. Blix’s outstanding contribution to making Vienna the well-established and appreciated place of international dialogue and cooperation.
“One can certainly say that Dr. Blix left his successors an excellent foundation on which to base their efforts, but also a pair of truly big shoes to fill.” - Ambassador Christine Stix-Hackl (Austria)
Following these words of welcome and congratulations, Dr. Blix offered his thoughts on peace, war and the state of the world in which we live. His talk drew on the inaugural “SIPRI Lecture” focused on the theme "Is the world on the road to peace or war?", which Dr. Blix delivered on 28 May in the presence of the King and Queen of Sweden, His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf and Her Majesty Queen Silvia.
During his talk, Dr. Blix referred to his many years of service in his national government, the IAEA, UNMOVIC (UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission) and as a very engaged retiree now working on his next book, this one on restrains on the use of force. Among his highlighted messages were the importance of professional civil servants and the increasing need for scientific approaches to matters of policy such as climate change. Addressing some of the issues from his book, Dr. Blix queried whether we could be wiser in tackling the use of force, particularly through the adoption and implementation of treaties. One of the major challenges to diplomacy is the fear of losing face. Riffing off a verse by Piet Hein, a Danish “polymath”, wherein the author wrote:
“The noble art of losing face may one day save the human race.”
Dr. Blix closed with a short verse he himself had penned:
“Let diplomacy be the noble art
That prevents an upset of the nuclear apple cart
That saves the famous ruler’s face
And allows him to withdraw with grace.”
Dr. Blix’s remarks were followed by a reception, complete with a birthday cake and birthday toasts.
The event was livestreamed by the VCDNP; Dr. Blix's welcome remarks and lecture notes can be read here or viewed below.
