EU Statement at IAEA Board of Governors on Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic, as delivered on 11 September 2024

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1]and Georgia, the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as San Marino, align themselves with this statement.

The EU thanks the Director General for his latest report and the Secretariat for its tireless efforts to address the implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in Syria.

The EU regrets that Syria still needs to remedy its longstanding non-compliance with its Safeguards Agreement under the NPT. We remain deeply concerned that long outstanding questions concerning the nature of the Deir Ezzor site and three other locations in Syria are yet to be resolved.

The EU supports the continued efforts of the Director General to address this situation. In this regard, we take note of the renewed engagement agreed between the IAEA and Syria during the DG's visit to Damascus on 19 March and welcome the launch of a process of clarification of the outstanding safeguards issues, including through Agency visits. We expect Syria to seize this opportunity to constructively engage with the IAEA on the outstanding issues until its noncompliance has been resolved. This by granting full and rapid access to all relevant sites.

Moreover, in order to rebuild confidence in its nuclear programme, we call on Syria to fully comply with the Board of Governors resolution of June 2011, provide the necessary information and cooperation to the IAEA, and conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol without further delay.

Chair,

Syria must be held accountable for its lack of action and urgently remedy this non-compliance. Until it fully cooperates with the Agency, we request the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed of any developments and maintain this item on the Board agenda.

Thank you, Chair.

[1]North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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