Brussels, 25/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 24 September, the United Nations Security Council adopted a binding resolution to stem the flow of foreign jihadists to Syria and Iraq, and to counter the threat that they represent for their country of origin. Adopted by unanimous vote, the text obliges the states, under the penalty of sanctions (with reference to Chapter 7), to prevent their citizens from joining these extremist organisations, especially targeting Islamic State (IS).
According to the resolution, the governments should prevent and hinder the recruitment and travel abroad of individuals who try to go abroad to plan or participate in terrorist actions or to receive training. The entry or transit of these foreign fighters on their territory will have to be prevented - as will financial aid to these fighters. The resolution also calls on the states to cooperate between themselves in order to “strengthen the exchange of information enabling foreign terrorist fighters to be identified” and to prevent further radicalisation able to lead to terrorism and the recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters. These fighters could be placed on the list on sanctions against al-Qaida.
According to US President Barack Obama, 15,000 foreign fighters coming from over 80 countries have joined these extremist organisations in Iraq and Syria over recent years.
The Security Council resolution is “a strong and unified message from the whole international community. The response [to IS] is military but also economic or humanitarian”, said France's President François Hollande. “Control must of course be strengthened, but also fighting those who preach violence and spread the poisonous ideology of extremism”, said the UK's Prime Minister David Cameron. “The EU welcomes the resolution calling on members of the Security Council to make it a criminal offence to travel abroad for terrorist purposes”, said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. “The strategic defeat of Islamic State demands determination, long term commitment and the unity of us all. The European Union and its member states are ready to play their role”, he added (our translation throughout). (CG)