In an
effort to curb the rise of extremism, the UN Security Council has voted
unanimously to work together. Member states must now impose restrictions that
"prevent and suppress" groups such as the "Islamic State."
Deutsche Welle, 24 Sep 2014
"This
is only the sixth time the Security Council has met at level like this,"
US President Barack Obama told the 15-member body on Wednesday in a special
session.
Just
minutes before, the members had passed a binding resolution in a unanimous
vote. The 193 nations of the UN are now obligated to hinder the spread of
extremism, a decision prompted by the sudden emergence of "Islamic
State" (IS) fighters in Syria and Iraq.
Roughly
15,000 foreign fighters originating from 80 nations are believed to have
traveled to Syria in recent years, according to the US president.
Calling it
a "historic decision," Obama reminded Security Council
representatives that legal action - including banning the recruitment of
foreign fighters and preventing extremists from traveling abroad to fight
alongside terrorist groups - was only the first step.
"[The]
resolution will not be enough. Promises on paper cannot keep us safe. Lofty
rhetoric and good intentions will not stop a single terrorist attack. The words
spoken here today must be matched and translated into action, into deeds ...
for years to come," he said.
The US
president had addressed the UN General Assembly earlier in the day, where he,
along with other foreign leaders appealed for the international community to
combat IS and allied militants before it was too late.
kms/mkg (AP, Reuters)
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