MOSCOW, July 29 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the UN Security Council’s statement on the illicit oil trade with terrorists in Syria and Iraq is a “clear signal” that any such deals are impossible.
“The UN Security Council has sent to all the parties an exact and clear signal on the inadmissibility of any such deals with terrorists. It was stated that the Security Council could adopt sanctions against those who violate this ban,” the ministry said.
On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a statement, initiated by Russia in late June, saying that the illegal oil deals in the areas controlled by terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq financially support terrorism and may be subject to sanctions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the statement also confirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq and envisages control over all the natural resources.
“There are concerns that the illegal oil trade from the seized oil fields has turned into one of the major sources of financial support for the extremist and radical groups operating in the two countries, including the notorious the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Jabhat Al-Nusra,” the statement said.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin earlier said Moscow had evidence that the Islamic State group and Jabhat al-Nusra were engaged in the oil trade that financed their terrorist activities.
The civil war in Syria has been ongoing for three years. The conflict broke out in March 2011 and has since claimed more than 130,000 lives, according to UN estimates. Moscow has repeatedly condemned the rise of terrorism in Syria and has urged the international community to take steps toward the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
