Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Austria
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia

BOG26112015_Syria

IAEA Board of Governors Meeting: 26-27 November 2015
Agenda Item 4(c): Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic
 

 

Thank you, Mr Chair.

The Australian delegation thanks the Director General for the update on the implementation of safeguards in the Syrian Arab Republic in his opening statement.

Mr Chair,

We continue to urge the Syrian Government to implement the Resolution adopted by the Board on 9 June 2011. The on-going conflict in Syria highlights all the more the need for Syria to cooperate with the Agency to address international nuclear proliferation concerns.

Australia emphasises the need for progress in regard to Syria’s undertaking in May 2011 to conduct discussions with the Agency to resolve the outstanding safeguards issues. We reiterate our call on Syria to cooperate fully with the Agency in clarifying matters related to the Dair Alzour site and other locations.

We continue to urge Syria to bring into force an Additional Protocol, which would further facilitate the Agency’s ability to verify the correctness and completeness of Syria’s declarations.

Mr Chair,

Australia requests the implementation of safeguards in Syria be retained on the Board’s agenda, and that the Director General continue to report to the Board on this matter as appropriate.

Thank you Mr Chair.