Stockholm

16 December 2003

Secretary-General's message on the launch of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission

Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General

I welcome the launch of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission chaired 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.