Explanation of vote by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva after the UNSC vote on a draft resolution on renewal of teh mandate of 1988 Monitroting Team on Taliban sanctions
Mr.President,
The Russian Federation voted in support of the Security Council resolution renewing the mandate of the 1988 Monitoring Team on Taliban sanctions for 12 months. We consistently support its activities and consider the reports of the Team to be of great assistance to the work of the Committee 1988 on sanctions against the Taliban movement.
We initially proceeded from the need for an expeditious technical rollover to allow the experts to carry on with their tasks without hindrance. It is gratifying that the resolution notes the importance of visits by the Monitoring Team to Afghanistan, which has traditionally been and remains a key condition for the effective implementation of the mandate. In this connection, we welcome the call for the experts on the Team to visit Afghanistan, i.a. for contacts with the de facto authorities.
We also note that the text refers to the need to revisit the sanctions regime on the basis of the recommendations that the Monitoring Team prepared following contacts with member states. At the same time, it is regrettable that the issue of extending the travel exemption mechanism for the 11 members of the Taliban has been left out of discussion. We believe it is important to continue to discuss this issue in UNSC Sanctions Committee 1988.
Thank you.
