SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES LAUNCH OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION COMMISSION

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES LAUNCH OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION COMMISSION

Following is the text of the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the launch of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission in Stockholm today:

I welcome the launch of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission chaired by Dr. Hans Blix.  The Commission faces a task of the utmost importance -- providing proposals on how to make progress in non-proliferation and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, and on how to minimize the risk of these weapons falling into the hands of terrorists.  I commend this timely initiative taken by the late Foreign Minister of Sweden, Anna Lindh, and look forward to fruitful cooperation between the Commission and the United Nations.

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