UN to make Al-Qaeda sanctions more fair, transparent

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution aiming to bring greater fairness and transparency to its regime of sanctions against Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and associated groups.
Resolution 1904, co-sponsored by Austria, the United States and six other nations, asks UN chief Ban Ki-moon to establish a post of ombudsperson for an initial period of 18 months, with the task of reviewing requests to be taken off the sanctions list in an independent and impartial manner.
It seeks to improve the sanctions regime targeting Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and associated extremist groups, which was established in 1999 under Security Council Resolution 1267. The sanctions include an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.
Austrias UN Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting called Thursdays resolution a significant step forward in improving the fairness and transparency of the 1267 sanctions regime, thus enhancing its effectiveness and legitimacy.
For the first time ever, individuals and entities seeking a de-listing will have a chance to present their case to an independent and impartial ombudsperson, said Mayr-Harting, who chairs the councils 1267 sanctions committee.
Resolution 1904 also urges committee members to make every effort to provide their reasons when objecting to a de-listing request, he noted.
He pointed to the growing number of cases filed by individuals and entities around the world seeking to be taken off a UN consolidated sanctions list of some 500 names. Critics note that the list includes dead people.
The 15-member council also directs the sanctions committee to conduct a comprehensive review of all pending de-listing issues so as to resolve them to the extent possible by the end of 2010, the Austrian envoy added.
Much will depend on the practical implementation of this resolution, especially on the appointment of an eminent ombudsperson with highest qualifications in fields such as law, human rights, counter-terrorism and sanctions, he noted.
His US counterpart Susan Rice also hailed passage of the resolution, saying it reaffirms the global consensus against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban and improves the fairness and transparency of the sanctions regime.