IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by Stephen Hills, Alternate Resident Representative
Australian Permanent Mission to the IAEA
Agenda Item 6(e): Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic
9 June 2021
Australia would once again like to thank the Director General for the update provided in his opening statement on the implementation of safeguards in the Syrian Arab Republic.
We would also like to thank the Secretariat for continuing efforts to address Syria’s non-compliance with its safeguards obligations.
Australia is deeply concerned by Syria’s failure to address outstanding questions about its facilities and activities at the Dair Alzour site. Australia again urges Syria to fully cooperate with the Agency in line with the Resolution adopted by the Board of Governors on 9 June 2011, now ten years ago.
Until such time as this occurs, we will not hesitate to continue drawing attention to Syria’s non-compliance. We remain resolute in our view that this issue should remain on the Board of Governors agenda until it is satisfactorily resolved.