UN votes to reform sanctions on Al Qaeda, Taliban

United Nations: The UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously voted Friday to pass two resolutions to reform sanctions on the Taliban and Al Qaeda and give the Afghan government a stronger role in their management, Xinhua reported.

"In voting today for adopting these two separate resolutions, once again we are stating that the international community must not slacken its efforts in fighting both Al Qaeda and the Taliban, " said Vitaly Churkin, the permanent representative of Russia to the UN Friday.

The Security Council resolutions 1988 and 1989 create two separate sanctions regimes, one for Al Qaeda and another for the Taliban. Up until this point, there has only been one sanctions regime to deal with both groups, established under Security Council Resolution 1267 in 1999.

"The establishment of two separate sanctions regimes makes it possible to adapt our tools to a threat which is constantly changing, has been changing for the last ten years and will continue to evolve after the death of Osama bin Laden," said Gerard Araud, the permanent representative of France to the UN.

"The link between Al Qaeda and the Taliban has not disappeared, but it is not the same as in 1999."

The sanctions levelled against members of Al Qaeda and the Taliban and enforced by the UN's 1267 Committee include freezing of assets as well as arms embargoes and travel bans.

Resolutions 1988 and 1989 indicate a need for the UNSC to help support efforts toward peace in Afghanistan through targeted sanctions.

The resolutions also give the Afghan government greater voice in the process to decide which individuals should be on the lists of Al Qaeda and Taliban members under sanctions.
 

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