Process of de-listing from UN’s Al-Qaida sanctions list progressing, says official

The official charged with helping people and entities get off the list of those subject to United Nations measures against Al-Qaida reported today that two people – of the 13 that had petitioned her office so far – have been de-listed by the committee that monitors the sanctions.

Kimberly Prost, the Ombudsperson for the Security Council committee managing the sanctions imposed in 1999 against Al-Qaida, the Taliban and those helping them, told a news briefing at the UN headquarters that four other petitions had also been submitted to the committee for consideration.

The Security Council voted unanimously last month to split sanctions it has imposed on Al-Qaida and those against the Taliban, creating two lists of individuals and organizations so that they can be treated separately under efforts to fight terrorism. The move left more than 250 persons on the Al-Qaida list.

Asked why only 13 had petitioned to be removed, Ms. Prost said that there may be many who do not know of the possibility of working with her office, and she was working on an outreach programme to correct the problem. Others, she said, might be “waiting and watching.”

Ms. Prost said the resolution adopted by the Council to split the list had strengthened her office because it urged cooperation from all States with the Ombudsperson, allowed more liberal disclosures of identities and mandated the committee to provide a reason why they would reject a de-listing.

It also provided for automatic de-listing if the committee did not act on the Ombudsperson’s recommendation within 60 days, unless a Member State objects directly to the Council.

The Ombudsperson said her cooperation with Member States has been “very good.”