UNSC warns member states not to deal with illicit oil trade from Syria, Iraq

NEW YORK, July 28 (KUNA) - The Security Council on Monday expressed "grave concern" over reports of the seizure of oil fields and pipelines in Syria and Iraq by terrorist groups, and urged member states to prevent the illicit oil trade as source of revenue to finance their terrorist acts. In a presidential statement read out by its President Eugene-Richard Gasana of Rwanda in an open meeting, the Council stressed that any trade of oil with such groups, namely 'Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) and 'Jabhat A1-Nusra', would be inconsistent with the Council's relevant resolutions.
The Council stressed in the Russian-drafted statement that all States are "required to ensure that their nationals and any persons within their territory do not engage in any commercial or financial transactions with or for the benefit, directly or indirectly," of those two terrorist entities, regarding oil in Syria and Iraq.
Reaffirming its "strong commitment" to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of both countries, the Council "strongly condemns" any engagement in direct or indirect trade of oil from Syria and Iraq involving terrorist groups. The Council also emphasized that "such engagement constitutes financial support for terrorists," and therefore warned that it may lead to further listings on the Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee list. The Council noted "with concern" that any oilfields and related infrastructure controlled by terrorist organizations "could generate material income for terrorists, which would support their recruitment efforts, including of foreign terrorist fighters, and strengthen their operational capability to organize and carry out terrorist attacks." The Council also stressed the importance that all member states uphold their obligation to ensure that their nationals and persons within their territory "do not make donations to individuals and entities listed on the Council's Sanctions Committee list, and should bring any information on such activities to the Committee's attention and closely cooperate with it. (end) sj.ajs