Jordan welcomes UN resolution on terror groups

AMMAN — Jordan on Friday welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution, which was adopted unanimously to combat dangers imposed by the Islamic State (IS) and Nusra terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria. 

The British-drafted resolution aimed at weakening Islamists in Iraq and Syria with measures to choke off funding and the flow of foreign fighters, the Agence France-Presse reported. 

In his address at the UN Security Council in New York, Mahmoud Hmoud, senior deputy to Jordan's permanent representative at the UN, underlined the importance of the resolution as a "strong" political and practical message from the council against terrorist groups and their actions. 

He added that Jordan supports fighting the "atrocities" and "crimes against humanity" carried out by members of the IS, previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), against innocent civilians, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

"There are not enough words to express the importance of having a political process in Iraq that results in the engagement of all Iraqi people without the exclusion of any group," Hmoud said. 

He underlined the need for the government policies in Iraq to be in line with human rights principles. 

"It is vital to notify that ISIL and other terrorist groups do not represent the Sunnis in Iraq. We would also like to stress that the Sunni sect in Iraq should be a main component of any comprehensive political process that includes all segments of Iraqi society," he noted. 

The official highlighted Jordan's support for the latest political efforts in Iraq, which resulted in naming a new president, prime minister and speaker of the house of representatives. 

On the other hand, Hmoud said terrorism in Syria is part of the crisis but not its cause.

He added that the main reason for the situation in Syria now is the policies of the Syrian regime and its choice to resort to a security option against Syrians' legitimate demands, while marginalising and oppressing the moderate opposition.  

"Jordan is fully aware of the regional and international dangers produced by extremist terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq," the diplomat said, stressing the Kingdom's commitment to supporting efforts aimed at better cooperation to combat terrorism, according to Petra.  

The Security Council's resolution represents the most wide-ranging response yet by the top United Nations body to the jihadists, who now control large swathes of territory in both countries and have been accused of atrocities, AFP reported.

The British-drafted measure also placed six Islamist leaders — from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other nations — on Al Qaeda sanctions list, which provides for a travel ban and assets freeze.

The resolution won the backing of all 15 members of the council, including Russia, whose backing for Syrian President Bashar Assad partly stems from concerns that his downfall could lead to Islamists ruling Damascus.

The resolution demands that IS fighters in Iraq and Syria, rebels from Al Nusra Front in Syria and other Al Qaeda-linked groups “disarm and disband with immediate effect”.

It “calls on all member states to take national measures to suppress the flow of foreign terrorist fighters” to the extremist groups and threatens to slap sanctions on those involved in recruitment.

It also warns governments and entities that trade with the jihadists, who now control oil fields and other potentially cash-generating infrastructure, “could constitute financial support” that may lead to sanctions, according to the AFP.