"The swift agreement of this resolution shows the strong and continuing unity of the Council on countering terrorism"
Statement by Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant of the UK Mission to the United Nations, at the Security Council Meeting on ISIL’s financing
Thank you Mr Chair.
This resolution, which the UK is co-sponsoring, demonstrates the Security Council’s continuing determination to tackle ISIL, specifically targeting its means of financing. It primarily focuses on oil sales but also covers other sources of ISIL income, including from kidnapping for ransom, the illicit trade in antiquities, natural resources, and financial transfers. The swift agreement of this resolution shows the strong and continuing unity of the Council on countering terrorism.
There is a disturbing body of evidence that Al Qaeda groups such as ISIL are generating significant incomes from the sale of oil, kidnapping for ransom and the looting and smuggling of cultural heritage items from Iraq and Syria. This resolution contains measures to constrain ISIL’s ability to fund their campaign of terror. It targets the sale of oil by ISIL and the supply of oil producing equipment to ISIL. It calls on States to prohibit the trade in Iraqi and Syrian cultural property that has been illegally removed.
We are pleased to have played an important role in ensuring that this resolution was comprehensive in confronting all sources of terrorist financing. And we look forward to working on the full and effective implementation following this unanimous show of support for the resolution.
I thank you.