Hans Blix Biography and Timeline

Uppsala Law Degree

Completes his law degree at Uppsala University, establishing the legal foundation for his later diplomatic and international-law career.

Cambridge Doctorate

Receives his doctorate from Cambridge after advanced study of international and constitutional law.

Stockholm University Academic Appointment

Begins teaching as an associate professor of international law at Stockholm University before entering senior government service.

Sixth Committee Delegation Service

Joins Sweden's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly and works on legal questions considered by the Sixth Committee.

Role range: 1961-1981

Geneva Disarmament Delegation Service

Begins serving with Sweden's delegation to international disarmament negotiations in Geneva, a role he continues for many years.

Role range: 1962-1978

Foreign Ministry Department Head

Becomes a department head in Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Role range: 1963-1976

International Law Adviser

Serves as a senior legal adviser on international law.

Role range: 1963-1976

Friendly Relations Committee Rapporteur

Serves as rapporteur of the United Nations committee examining principles of international law governing friendly relations and cooperation among states.

Law of Treaties Conference First Session

Represents Sweden at the first session of the United Nations Conference on the Law of Treaties in Vienna.

Law of Treaties Conference Second Session

Returns to Vienna for the second session of the treaty-law conference that produces the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

Development Cooperation Responsibility

Takes responsibility for Sweden's international development cooperation.

Role range: 1976-1978

Under-Secretary Appointment

Becomes Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign Ministry.

Role range: 1976-1978

Foreign Minister Appointment

Is appointed Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Role range: 1978-1979

Swedish Foreign Ministry Leadership

Takes Cabinet responsibility for Swedish foreign policy.

Role range: 1978-1979

Foreign Secretary of Sweden

Appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs

Role range: 1978-1979

Foreign Ministry Tenure Ends

Completes his service as Sweden's foreign minister.

Role range: 1978-1979

Leaves Foreign Minister Office

Returns to international legal and nuclear policy work.

Role range: 1978-1979

Liberal Campaign Committee

Participates prominently in Sweden's national nuclear power referendum debate.

Nuclear Energy Referendum Campaign

Leads a Liberal campaign supporting retention of nuclear energy.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Personally makes repeated inspection visits to the Iraqi nuclear reactor Osiraq before its attempted destruction by the Iranians, in 1980

IAEA Director General Inauguration

Is inaugurated as Director General of the IAEA.

Role range: 1981-1997

IAEA Leadership Begins

Begins sixteen years leading the international nuclear agency.

Role range: 1981-1997

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Appointed Director General of the IAEA

Role range: 1981-1997

OSART Programme Begins

The IAEA begins its Operational Safety Review Team programme for peer review of nuclear power plant operational safety.

Role range: 1981-1997

International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group Created

Establishes the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group to provide high-level advice on nuclear safety.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Initial IAEA Response

Directs the IAEA's initial international response as information about radioactive releases from Chernobyl begins reaching member states.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Information Request

Seeks authoritative technical information from Soviet authorities about the Chernobyl accident and its radiological consequences.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl International Coordination

Coordinates IAEA communication with member states concerned about radioactive fallout spreading across national borders.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Mission Conclusion

Concludes the IAEA mission to the Soviet Union after obtaining information that can be shared with the international nuclear community.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Mission to USSR

Concludes an IAEA mission to the Soviet Union after discussions concerning the Chernobyl accident and its international implications.

Role range: 1981-1997

Post-Accident International Cooperation

Promotes international exchange of information about the reactor accident.

Role range: 1981-1997

IAEA Board Chernobyl Review

Leads the IAEA during a Board review of the Chernobyl accident and the need for stronger international nuclear-safety cooperation.

Role range: 1981-1997

Nuclear Safety Cooperation Strengthened

Supports stronger international cooperation in nuclear safety and notification.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Moscow Mission

Travels to Moscow as part of the IAEA response and discusses the accident with Soviet officials and specialists.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Safety Lessons

Promotes international examination of the safety lessons emerging from the Chernobyl reactor accident.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Technical Briefing

Receives technical briefings from Soviet experts concerning the damaged reactor, emergency measures and radioactive releases.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Emergency Cooperation

Advocates stronger international arrangements for requesting and providing assistance during nuclear emergencies.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Reporting Reform

Supports work toward international rules requiring faster reporting of nuclear accidents with possible transboundary effects.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Technical Meeting Preparation

Oversees preparations for an international technical review of the Chernobyl accident and its causes.

Role range: 1981-1997

Chernobyl Post-Accident Review Meeting

The IAEA convenes an international post-accident review meeting where Soviet experts present information on Chernobyl.

Role range: 1981-1997