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Conflict in Syria

Russia, Rwanda urge to fight illegal oil purchases from Syrian terrorists

The draft declaration presented by the UN Security Council states that any oil export or import without permission by a sovereign country is against the law

© AP Photo/Hasan Jamali

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Russian diplomat urges UN to probe into oil exports by terrorists in Syria, Iraq

THE UNITED NATIONS, July 01. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia has submitted to the UN Security Council a draft statement by the Security Council's president (Rwanda took over SC presidency in July) for measures against illegal oil purchases from terrorist groups active in Syria.

The document expresses concerns about seizure of oil fields in Syria by radical groups, among them the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra. Any oil export or import without permission by a sovereign country is against the law, goes the draft declaration.

The project strongly condemns any participation, direct or indirect, in trade in Syrian oil by terrorist groups and describes it as equal to providing the organizations, designated as terrorist by the SC special committee, with financial aid. Supporters will face inclusion in a black list and sanctions, the draft statement warns.

Rwanda proposed to urge UN members to take measures necessary to prevent their citizens and individuals and organizations acting on their territory in any commercial or financial deals with Syrian crude controlled by non-state subjects.

A statement by the UN SC president is the SC's second most important document after resolution and requires consent of all fifteen member countries to be adopted. In March, the SC introduced sanctions against Libyan courts taking oil from the areas controlled by extremists.

Last week, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin expressed concern about illegal oil purchases in Syria and Iraq. Proceeds go for weapon purchases and help finance terrorism in the region. The international community faced the threat of seeing a terrorist state form between Aleppo and Baghdad, Churkin said. The fears were confirmed as on Sunday the ISIS proclaimed an Islamic califate on the controlled territory.

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Syria United Nations Fight against terrorism Oil & Gas

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