IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 8(b): Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in
the Syrian Arab Republic
11 September 2024
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Chair
Australia thanks the Director General for the update provided in his opening statement to the Board on the implementation of safeguards in the Syrian Arab Republic and for the Director General’s latest report on the matter. We commend the Director General and the Secretariat for their sustained efforts to address Syria’s non-compliance with its safeguards obligations.
Chair
Australia was encouraged by the Agency’s visit to Syria in June 2024 to conduct environmental sampling. However, Australia remains deeply concerned at Syria’s ongoing failure to address outstanding questions about undeclared facilities and activities at the Dair Alzour site. We must still insist that Syria fulfil its legal obligations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA and respect this Board’s June 2011 resolution (GOV/2011/41) and repeated calls from Board members, the Director General and the Agency on this issue.
Australia urges Syria to cooperate constructively with the Agency to resolve all outstanding safeguards questions, and bring into force an Additional Protocol so that the Agency is able to provide the necessary safeguards assurances.
Chair
Some delegations have made calls for this issue to be removed from the Board’s agenda. The passage of time cannot be justification for the Board to cease addressing a case of non-compliance with safeguards obligations. Until all outstanding questions regarding Syria’s non-compliance are satisfactorily resolved, we request that this item be retained on the agenda for all future meetings of the Board.
We once again thank the Director General for his efforts and for keeping Member States apprised of developments and join the requests to make the Director General’s latest report (GOV/2024/43) public.
Thank you Chair.