15 January 2002

UN Security Council Lifts Sanctions on Afghanistan's Airline

United Nations -- The UN Security Council January 15 voted unanimously to end sanctions imposed on Ariana Afghan Airlines more than two years ago.

In a short meeting devoid of speeches, the council noted that Afghanistan's national airlines is no longer owned, leased, or operated by or on behalf of the Taliban, and therefore the sanctions first applied on the airline in 1999 are no longer necessary.

The council imposed a flight ban on Ariana Airlines along with freezing the financial assets of the Taliban in October 1999 after the Taliban refused to comply with a council resolution demanding that it cease support of terrorism and expel Usama bin Laden so that he could stand trial for the bombing of two U.S. embassies in East Africa. In December 2000 the sanctions were increased requiring nations to close the airlines' offices around the world.

Council President Jagdish Koonjul of Mauritius said that the resolution was "a way to send the right signal to the Afghan people that the Security Council will be with the Afghan population once the Taliban, the al Qaeda, and all have been chased away from Afghanistan."

The council is planning on passing another, more comprehensive resolution later in the month when the resolution covering the wide range of sanctions imposed against the Taliban-governed Afghanistan is due to expire.

Following is the text of the resolution:

Noting that Ariana Afghan Airlines is no longer owned, leased or operated by or on behalf of the Taliban, nor are its funds and other financial resources owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Taliban.

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

• Decides that the provisions of paragraph 4 (a) and (b) of resolution 1267 (1999) do not apply to Ariana Afghan Airlines aircraft or Ariana Afghan Airlines funds and other financial resources;

• Decides to terminate the measure provided for by paragraph 8 (b) of resolution 1333 (2000);

• Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.