MaximsNewsNetwork: IAEA: MOHAMED ElBARADEI: SYRIA & IRAN NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION

MaximsNewsNetwork: 08 September 2009 - IAEA: IAEA Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei reports on nuclear safeguards in Syria and Iran, as well as other issues including illicit nuclear trafficking and the assurance of supply of nuclear fuel.

IAEA Director General, Mohamed El Baradei, on Monday (7 September) reported on nuclear safeguards in Syria and Iran, as well as other issues including illicit nuclear trafficking and the assurance of supply of nuclear fuel, in his opening statement to the Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria.

The Director General reported that although the Islamic Republic of Iran has cooperated with the Agency on some issues, several critical areas remain unaddressed.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed El Baradei, Director General of the IAEA:
Iran has cooperated with the Agency in improving safeguards measures at the Fuel Enrichment Plant and in providing the required access to the Iran Nuclear Research Reactor (IR-40) at Arak for purposes of design information verification. On all other issues however, relevant to Iran´s nuclear programme, however, there is stalemate. Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities or its work on heavy water related projects as required by the Security Council.

In relation to the Syrian Arab Republic, the Director General noted that Syria still refuses to cooperate with the IAEA´s inquiry into the activities that were being undertaken at the now destroyed Dair Alzour site.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed El Baradei, Director General of the IAEA:
Syria has not yet provided the necessary cooperation to permit the Agency to determine the origin of the anthropogenic natural uranium particles found in samples taken at the Dair Alzour site. Syria has not cooperated with the Agency to enable the Agency to confirm Syria´s statements regarding the non-nuclear nature of the destroyed building on the Dair Alzour site, nor has it provided the required access to information, locations, equipment or materials. I urge Syria to cooperate with the Agency in its verification activities related to the nature of the Dair Alzour site.

In continuing to advocate the proposed IAEA low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel bank, Dr. El Baradei said that the ultimate aim should be the full multinationalization of the sensitive parts of the fuel cycle to guarantee the supply of nuclear fuel and consolidate efforts to achieve a world free from nuclear weapons.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed El Baradei, Director General of the IAEA:
Since 2003, I have highlighted the merits of a multilateral approach to the assurance of supply of nuclear fuel. Reliance on nuclear energy is expected to increase in the coming decades and such assurances would increase the security of energy supply. As I have said many times, any such mechanism should be non-political, non-discriminatory and available to all Member States in compliance with their safeguards obligations.

The IAEA's 35-member Board of Governors is meeting to discuss the IAEA's work on nuclear verification, safety and security and the peaceful use of nuclear technologies. The Board, which meets five times a year at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, is the Agency's policymaking body.

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