Il UN Security Council unanimously gave the green light to a resolution that strengthens sanctions against those who do business with ISIS. The text, drafted jointly by the US and Russia and also co-sponsored by Italy, aims to hit the finances of the Islamic State.
"Terrorists continue to diversify their livelihoods, to the point that the group today has built a multimillion-dollar empire," stressed the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.
The text invites member countries to report what measures they are adopting to prevent terrorist organizations from accumulating money. Other measures point to prevent groups from using international banks. They also come strengthened UN monitoring capabilities.
"Any individual, group, company or entity that provides support to ISIS or al Qaeda - reads the resolution - is subject to the restrictive measures imposed by the United Nations, including an asset freeze, a travel ban and an embargo on weapons".
According to US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, who chaired the Security Council meeting, “cutting the flow of funding to ISIS prevents jihadists from having the money they need to organize attacks. The impact is real and it makes it more difficult for terrorists to move and obtain funds. To be successful we need to increase our efforts”.
Meanwhile, a letter of threats signed by Isis, written in Arabic and containing bullets was sent to the Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando. “We will enter Rome – it is written in the text – and we will cut off your head”.
The letter had the address written in English and was delivered to the ministry. The bullets inserted in the letter are two and they are Ak47, those from Kalashnikovs. The address would have been written on the envelope with a stencil and the letter would have reached Fiumicino and then from here to via Arenula, the seat of the ministry. The Rome prosecutor is dealing with the matter.
