Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Austria
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia

Australian Statement to the IAEA Board of Governors: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic

IAEA Board of Governors Meeting

Statement by Ms Amelia Appleton, Alternate Resident Representative to the IAEA

Agenda Item 5(d) (Syria): Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic

6 March 2019
 
Chair,

The Australian Government has three key messages on the implementation of safeguards in Syria.

First: Australia commends the Director General and his team for the Secretariat’s continued work to address Syria’s non-compliance with its safeguards obligations.

Secondly: Australia remains deeply concerned by Syria’s lack of action to address outstanding questions about its facilities and activities at the Dair Alzour site.

We regret that there has been no progress on this matter over successive years despite the efforts of the IAEA.

Australia once again urges Syria to resolve this matter by fully cooperating with the Agency in line with the Resolution adopted by the Board of Governors on 9 June 2011.

Chair,

Until this occurs, Australia will continue to draw attention to Syria’s non-compliance.

And finally, Chair, it remains Australia’s firm view that this issue must remain on the IAEA Board of Governors agenda until such time as it is satisfactorily resolved.

Thank you Chair.