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Ex-Arms Inspector Blix: Obama Award Will Bolster Disarmament

By Hammad Jawdat, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Former United Nations nuclear inspector Hans Blix said the decision Friday to give the Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Barack Obama would help focus efforts to achieve global nuclear disarmament.

In a surprise decision, the Nobel Committee said it was awarding the prize to Obama, citing his creation of a "new climate in international politics" and his work on nuclear disarmament.

"I'm delighted," Blix said in an interview. "I think that it will place the nuclear discussion on the world agenda. Obama has been terrific at presenting the issue...and this will focus it even more," said Blix.

"Some people will ask, 'What has (Obama) done? It's just hope?' But I don't think so. It signals the commitment of the biggest nuclear power to disarm," he added.

Blix spoke during a visit to New York as Lightbridge Corp. (LTBR), a nuclear energy company, made its Nasdaq debut. Blix serves as a senior adviser to the McLean, Va., company, which says it develops non-proliferative nuclear fuel technology and provides advisory services for civil nuclear energy programs.

A former chief United Nations arms inspector, Blix led the Iraq weapons inspection effort in 2002-2003. He was also director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1981 to 1997. He currently chairs the Stockholm-based Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, a Swedish-government sponsored group striving for non-proliferation and disarmament.

-By Hammad Jawdat, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2094; hammad.jawdat@ dowjones.com

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  10-09-091445ET
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