EU Statement on Agenda item 5(c): Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic

Chair, 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, and Ukraine.

The EU thanks the Director General for the update provided on Syria in his opening statement and the Secretariat for its tireless efforts to address the implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in Syria.

We fully support the Director General’s engagement with Syria and the ongoing process to clarify outstanding safeguards issues, including through Agency visits, access to three locations related to the Deir Ezzor site and environmental sampling. This enables the IAEA to conduct verification activities with the aim of achieving clarity regarding the Assad regime’s nuclear activities. Clarification of unresolved safeguards implementation issues is a legally binding international obligation for any State having concluded a safeguards agreement, and remains of crucial importance for the preservation of the integrity of the international non-proliferation regime. 

The EU welcomes the recent meeting between the Director General and the Head of Syria’s Atomic Energy Commission. We recognise efforts so far and call on the Syrian authorities to continue and reinforce their cooperation with the IAEA to address all outstanding issues without further delay. In this regard, we welcome the immediate and unrestricted access to relevant sites granted by President Al-Sharaa. 

We also welcome the recent global agreement between the Syrian authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which should help to facilitate inspections in Deir Ezzor.

We strongly encourage Syria to conclude and bring into force without delay an Additional Protocol. 

We request the Director General to keep the Board of Governors timely informed of any developments and to maintain this item on the Board agenda. 

Thank you, Chair.