IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by Mr Stephen Hills, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda Item 9(b): Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic
September 2020
Australia takes note of the Director General’s latest report on implementation of NPT safeguards in the Syrian Arab Republic and that the Agency remains of the view that a building destroyed at Syria’s Dair Alzour site was very likely a nuclear reactor that Syria should have declared to the Agency
The fact that Syria has yet to take steps to address its non-compliance with its safeguards obligations is a matter of ongoing concern and regret.
We commend the Director General and the staff of the Agency as they continue to urge Syria to cooperate fully with the Agency.
Like others, Australia urges Syria to remedy this situation by fully cooperating with the Agency in line with the Resolution adopted by the Board of Governors on 9 June 2011.
Until this occurs, we will remain seized of this issue, and, as with any instance of non-compliance with safeguards obligations, request that this issue remains on the Board of Governors agenda until it is satisfactorily resolved.