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Agenda Item 5b: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic

IAEA Board of Governors

Agenda Item 5b: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic

16 November 2022

Statement by Ms Eugenie Hwang, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA

 

Australia thanks the Director General for the update provided in his opening statement to the Board, and the Secretariat for its continued work to address the implementation of NPT safeguards in the Syrian Arab Republic.

Australia remains deeply concerned by Syria’s lack of action, over successive years, to address outstanding questions about its undeclared facilities and activities at the Dair Alzour site, in line with the Resolution adopted by the Board in June 2011. These questions relate to Syria’s non-compliance with its legal obligations under its NPT safeguards agreement. 

Chair

We again call on Syria to cooperate fully and constructively with the IAEA and to provide the necessary information to demonstrate, to the Agency’s satisfaction, that its nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.

Until Syria returns to full compliance with its safeguards obligations and this issue is satisfactorily resolved, we request that this issue remain on the agenda for all future meetings of the Board.

Thank you Chair.