IAEA Board of Governors: 21 September 2016
Statement by Mr David Lewis, Alternate Permanent Representative to the IAEA
Agenda Item 8 (c): Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic
Mr Chair,
The Australian delegation thanks the Director General for his update on the implementation of safeguards in the Syrian Arab Republic, contained in GOV/2016/44.
As the Director General notes in his report, no new information has come to the knowledge of the Agency that would impact on its assessment that it was very likely that the building destroyed at the Dair Alzour site was a nuclear reactor that should have been declared by Syria.
We reiterate our call on Syria to implement the Resolution adopted by the Board in June 2011, to cooperate fully with the Agency in clarifying matters related to this site, and 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.
Thank you.