Security Council extends mandate of Al-Qaida sanctions monitoring group

The Security Council today extended by 18 months the mandate of the monitoring team set up in 2004 to help track the application of the world body’s sanctions against the Taliban, Al-Qaida and their operatives.

The eight-member Analytical Support and Sanctions Implementation Monitoring Team, based in New York, reports periodically to the Council.

In a resolution, adopted unanimously, the 15-member body reaffirmed that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations.”

Tackling the scourge requires the cooperation of all States and international and regional organizations, the Council stressed.

It called on Member States to “continue their efforts to act vigorously and decisively to cut the flow of funds and other financial assets and economic resources to Al-Qaida, Usama bin Laden and the Taliban and other individuals, group, undertakings and entities associated with them.”

The resolution also directed the Council committee concerning Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions to review by 30 June 2010 the names of individuals and entities that it agrees are members of or associated with Al-Qaida, Usama Bin Laden and the Taliban on the so-called Consolidated List.

Council members were also briefed on the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), which is tasked with observing the efforts of countries to combat global terrorism, by its head.

CTED Executive Director Mike Smith presented a survey on the implementation of resolution 1373, which was adopted in the wake of the September 2001 attacks on the United States and calls on countries to adopt a number of measures to enhance their ability to counter terrorist activities nationally, regionally and globally. This resolution also established the CTED.

In a related development, today marks the last day of the Council’s United States presidency, and Viet Nam will assume the monthly role beginning tomorrow.