VIENNA (AP) — The board of the UN nuclear watchdog on Wednesday adopted a resolution ending its investigation into past secret nuclear activities in Syria that revealed a reactor configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons.

Under ousted former president Bashar Assad, Syria was believed to have operated an extensive undeclared nuclear program that included a reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province.

The 35-member board of governors of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency adopted the resolution unanimously, according to diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the outcome of the closed-door vote.

Delegates could be heard applauding inside the board room as the resolution was adopted, ending the investigation after almost two decades.

The resolution was put forward by Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

In June 2011, the IAEA Board of Governors found Syria in non-compliance with its nonproliferation obligations for secretly constructing a nuclear reactor in Deir el-Zour and reported the matter to the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to consider sanctions.

Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the safeguards agreement Syria has with the UN nuclear watchdog, Syria is legally bound to declare all nuclear material and activities to the agency and allow IAEA inspectors to verify that none........

© The Times of Israel