Israel’s refusal to submit its nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards is a threat to international peace and security, says Ambassador Sabbagh

Vienna, (ST) – With the participation of Syria, the International Atomic Energy Agency is holding in Vienna the work of the current Board of Governors session with virtual technology, due to the measures taken to confront the Corona pandemic.

Syria’s Permanent Representative to the agency Bassam al-Sabbagh stressed in a speech during the work of the session that Syria cooperated fully with the agency with regard to the implementation of safeguards, and said that the agency’s reports on the implementation of safeguards testify to Syria’s cooperation with it and indicates that it has not lagged behind in fulfilling its legal obligations under the safeguards agreement “Comprehensive and Non-Proliferation Treaty” and it has met all requests on time.

Ambassador Sabbagh stressed that the ways of confusion followed by well-known parties about Syria is ridiculous, “Syria has managed, despite all the difficult circumstances that it went through due to the aggressive and failed policies of those known parties, to fulfill the implementation of all international obligations required of it under the safeguards agreement.”

On the other hand, the Ambassador Sabbagh stressed that the survival of “Israel” with its nuclear capabilities outside the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the Agency represents a grave danger to the non-proliferation regime. He clarified that “Israel’s refusal” of all initiatives calling for the denuclearization of the Middle East region makes it a threaten to security and stability in the region.

Sabbagh praised Iran’s commitment in implementing  the joint comprehensive plan of action since its establishment, stressing that the United States’withdrawal from the plan unilaterally and without any legitimate justifications is a flagrant violation of Security Council Resolution 2231. 

Ambassador Sabbagh also stressed that the continuation of joint cooperation between the agency and Iran in accordance with the agreed procedures facilitates the full and effective implementation of the obligations of the two parties, expressing Syria’s aspiration for the continuous of the agency to carry out the tasks entrusted to it in full neutrality, independence and objectivity.

The work of the Board of Governors at its current session includes a number of topics, the most important of which are the agency’s role in promoting the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and supporting the efforts of member states in facing and containing the emerging Corona virus. 

 Raghda Sawas