UNITED NATIONS: The United Nati­o­ns Security Council approved on Thu­rs­day measures targeting sources of funding for the Islamic State (IS) militant group and Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), condemning those buying oil from the groups, banning all trade in looted antiquities from Iraq and Syria, and calling on states to end ransom payments.

The council also called for global cooperation “to impair, isolate and incapacitate” terrorists. The council adopted a Russian-led resolution, which reiterated its deep concern that oilfields, as well as other infrastructure such as dams and power plants, controlled by IS, ANF and other Al Qaeda-associated groups, “are generating a significant portion of the groups’ income, alongside extortion, private foreign donations, kidnap ransoms and stolen money from the territory they control”.

As such, the council, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter — which authorises the use of force — condemned any engagement in direct or indirect trade, in particular of oil and oil products, and modular refineries, with IS, ANF and Al Qaeda affiliates, and reiterated that “such engagement would constitute support for such individuals, groups, undertakings and entities and may lead to further listings” by the relevant Sanctions Committee.

The resolution, which bolsters the cou­ncil’s previous measures to cut off financing for IS and its affiliates, reaffirms the existing obligations of member states to “freeze without delay” funds and other financial assets or economic resources of persons who commit, or attempt to commit, terrorist acts.

Published in Dawn February 13th , 2015

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