Norway to Control UN Sanctions Against North Korea and Al-Qaeda – NRK Urix – Foreign News & Documentaries

– Norway takes great responsibility in complex and labor-intensive committees. It is important that small countries like Norway do that, says Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide.

The sanctions committees will ensure that the punitive measures agreed by the UN are applied. The measures can be directed to individuals, money transfers or commerce.

Norway will chair two of the sanctions committees in the most powerful UN body for the next two years: the UN’s work to punish North Korea and the terrorists in IS / Al-Qaeda.

– We have given high priority to the fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda, both militarily and humanitarian and by freezing economic supplies. The need to maintain sanctions is very strong, says Eriksen Søreide.

He also says that it is important for a Norwegian leadership that people still have legal certainty and are not put on sanctions lists for no reason.

The UN has ordered North Korea to get rid of weapons of mass destruction and the nuclear program. Punitive measures will contribute to international peace and security.

Foreign Minister Eriksen Søreide warns that Norway will see if it is possible to improve the daily lives of North Koreans.

“The situation has long been very dramatic due to North Korea’s own political decisions, but it is important for the sanctions committee to see if there are things that can be done, such as greater humanitarian access,” Eriksen Søreide told NRK. .

– Does Norway have the necessary knowledge to lead these sanctions committees?

– We have specialized knowledge and good experience in dealing with the sanctions introduced by the UN. At the same time, we must have a realistic approach because it is a polarized international discussion and on many issues the Security Council is stagnant, he says.

The Norwegian UN delegation in New York has been reinforced with nine people.

This is the first week of work in the UN Security Council for Norwegian diplomats. According to the plan, by October last year it should have been clear what tasks Norway will be assigned. Only now have all the pieces fallen into place.

– Sanctions committees and sanctions regimes are one of the most important tools we have in the fight against terrorism. For us, this fits in well with the priorities that we set in the Security Council, believes the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Just before Christmas, NRK was able to report that one of the world’s deadliest conflicts, Afghanistan, ends up on the Norwegian table.

Questions on humanitarian access in Syria and the Security Council working group on children in armed conflict will also be key tasks for Norway.

See here how Norway prepared for the UN Security Council:

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