In a closed meeting on Friday, 6 February 2015, it is understood that members of the United Nations Security Council (the “UNSC“) discussed a draft resolution targeting the ability of Islamic State (“ISIL“), al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front militants and other terrorist groups to generate financing, which is reported to have been proposed by Russia and is supported by the United States, China, Britain and France. It is anticipated that the draft resolution will be adopted this week.
This draft resolution is understood to ban all trade in antiquities from Syria, which mirrors similar measures passed by the UNSC ten years’ ago relating to antiquities from Iraq. In addition, the draft resolution is also reported to call for sanctions against those who buy oil produced or sold by ISIL of Syria, or who supply equipment to assist them in running oil refineries. It calls on all UN Member States to consider appropriate measures to prevent the smuggling of weapons, particularly portable surface-to-air missiles, to the terrorist groups. While the draft resolution does not provide for any new UN designations, it does ask a UN sanctions committee to “immediately consider designations of individuals and entities engaged in oil trade-related activities“. The draft resolution does not authorise the use of military force.
