Washington, DC – Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today condemned Syria’s continued efforts to block the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to investigate its illicit nuclear activities, as recently revealed by the IAEA Secretary General in a report to the organization.

“Syria continues to defy the world and is violating its obligations to prove that all its nuclear-related activities are peaceful. The IAEA Secretary General should immediately demand a special inspection of Syria’s activities regarding its illicit and covert construction of a nuclear reactor and other suspicious activities. If Syria refuses, the IAEA Board of Governors should refer Syria’s non-compliance with its safeguards obligations to the UN Security Council.”