Explanation of Vote by Ambassador David B. Dunn, U.S. Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs to the United Nations, After the Adoption of Resolutions 1988 and 1989

David B. Dunn
Acting  U.S. Ambassador and Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

New York, NY

June 17, 2011

AS DELIVERED

The United States welcomes and strongly supports today’s Council action to implement significant reforms to the 1267 regime and create a new sanctions regime targeting violent extremists in Afghanistan. With these reforms, the Council acknowledges that the nature of these threats has evolved and that events on the ground in Afghanistan have changed. The Council has also taken major steps to strengthen the fairness and transparency in its listing and delisting procedures, including to expand the mandate and enhance the authority of the 1267 Ombudsperson. 

The actions the Council took today, with Afghan government support, are designed to support and promote Afghan-led reconciliation, while targeting those associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan. They will also allow the 1267 Committee to better tailor its efforts to the unique global threat posed by al-Qaeda and its affiliates. 

We wish to acknowledge the role of the 1267 Monitoring Team in outlining the evolving nature of the threat and recommending ways for us to modernize the 1267 sanctions. This sanctions regime is one of the most important multilateral counter-terrorism tools the international community has at its disposal. We hope today’s actions will ensure that these measures continue to enjoy the full support of the international community, and are fully implemented by all Member States.  Thank you. 

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