IAEA refers Syria to UN Security Council over covert nuclear facility

[News_Editor]

IAEA refers Syria to UN Security Council over covert nuclear facility

2011-06-10 01:49:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

VIENNA, AUSTRIA (BNO NEWS) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday referred Syria to the United Nations Security Council for not declaring the construction of a nuclear reactor and not complying with its nuclear obligations.

The decision was announced during the conclusion of the five-day meeting by the IAEA Board of Governors and following the deliberation of the Director General Yukiya Amano's report.

According to IAEA, Syria had not complied with its obligations under its Safeguards Agreements with the IAEA by failing to declare the construction of a nuclear reactor at Dair Alzour, and failing to provide design information for the facility which was bombed by Israel in 2007.

"The Syrian Government was given ample time by the Agency to cooperate fully concerning the Dair Alzour site, but did not do so," added Amano. "I am confident about our conclusion and I look forward to engaging further with Syria to resolve related outstanding issues."

The UN nuclear watchdog decided to report the Arab republic's non compliance to the UN Security Council and General Assembly. The IAEA Board also called upon Syria to fully implement the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA.

This will allow Amano to provide the necessary assurances regarding both the correctness and completeness of Syria's declarations pursuant to its Safeguards Agreement.

The IAEA Director General regretted that the Dair Alzour was allegedly destroyed by Israel as the UN agency did not have the opportunity to perform verification in the facility.

"It is deeply regrettable that the facility was destroyed. Rather than force being used, the case should have been reported to the IAEA," stressed the IAEA chief.

For the past two years, Syria has denied access to the remains of the Dair Alzour facility. In June 2008, inspectors detected traces of uranium which did not were declared by the Arab country.

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