26 August 2014
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, condemned the appalling and horrific crimes against humanity being committed daily in Iraq by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups. (more…)
26 August 2014
Voicing grave concern over the reported access to and seizure of oilfields and pipelines in Syria and Iraq by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Jabhat Al-Nusra, the Security Council underscored that there should be no trade in oil with these terrorist groups. (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | Security Council concerned about illicit oil trade as revenue for terrorists in Iraq, Syria
Source: UN Security Council | SC/11495 | 7226th Meeting (AM) | Security Council Voices Grave Concern over Reported Seizure of Oilfields by Terrorist Groups Operating in Syria, Iraq | 28 July 2014
25 August 2014
According to Rudaw, in an interview with German ZDF radio last week, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said that Berlin had a shared responsibility to support the Kurdish forces in their war against ISIS, adding that Europe cannot be indifferent to the IS advance.
The Kurdish Peshmerga remain the only reliable military force in Iraq after the Iraqi army, faced with the IS advance that began in June 2014, collapsed. European military support for the Kurds continued to swell on Wednesday 20 August, with Germany, Albania and Italy announcing arms supplies to Peshmerga forces fighting the ISIS armies. They join Britain and France in arms supplies to the Kurds, who are also being backed with US air strikes against the militants and logistical help from Canada.
According to Reuters, Steinmeier said that, besides humanitarian aid and military equipment such as body armor and helmets, “we can also imagine providing further equipment, including weapons” but went on to state that this would take place “in close agreement with our European and international partners (…) in such a way that it boosts the Peshmerga’s ability to defend themselves.”
Source: Rudaw | European Nations Boost Arms Supplies, Military Support to Kurds
Source: Reuters | Germany, Italy say prepared to send weapons to Iraq's Kurds
Source: Rudaw | Germany Joins Countries Arming Kurdish Peshmerga Forces
22 August 2014
The UN expects over 300 initiatives to be announced at the Third UN Conference on Small Island Developing States aimed at fostering partnerships with small island developing states, which will take place from 1 to 4 September 2014. The Conference’s Secretary-General, Wu Hongbo, said that with much of the political work already agreed on, participants can focus on how to take these decisions forward and on generating sustainable partnerships. (more…)
Source: SAMOA Parthway | A/CONF.223/3 | Draft outcome document of the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States | 17 July 2014
Source: UN News Centre | UN expects upcoming Samoa small island conference to generate vital partnerships
21 August 2014
Expressing its ‘gravest concern’ that parts of Iraq and Syria are now under the control of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusra Front, the UN Security Council placed six individuals affiliated with the terrorist groups on its Al-Qaida sanctions list and threatened measures against those who finance, recruit or supply weapons to them. (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | Adopting resolution, Security Council approves sanctions against militants in Iraq, Syria
Source: UN News Centre | UNSC | SC/11520 | Security Council Adopts Resolution 2170 (2014) Condemning Gross, Widespread Abuse Of Human Rights by Extremist Groups in Iraq, Syria | 15 August 2014