IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by Mr Stephen Hills, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda Item 4(d) (Syria): Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic
22 November 2019
Chair,
Australia again notes the IAEA assessment that a building destroyed at Syria’s Dair Alzour site was very likely a nuclear reactor that Syria should have declared to the Agency.
Australia regrets that Syria has failed to take steps to address its non-compliance with safeguards obligations.
We commend the Director General and the Secretariat for their continued efforts to address Syria’s non-compliance.
Chair,
Australia again urges Syria to remedy its non-compliance by fully cooperating with the Agency in line with the Resolution adopted by the Board of Governors on 9 June 2011.
Until this occurs, Australia will continue to draw attention to Syria’s non-compliance.
Australia’s is firmly of the view – as with any instance of non-compliance with safeguards obligations – that this issue must remain on the IAEA Board of Governors agenda until such time as it is satisfactorily resolved.
Thank you Chair.