Britain hails UN resolution on kidnap for ransom

British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday welcomed the unanimous adoption by the United Nations Security Council of a resolution against ransom payments to terrorists. Speaking after the Resolution's adoption in New York, Hague said: "I am delighted that the UN Security Council has adopted unanimously its first resolution dedicated solely to tackling terrorist kidnapping for ransom." "Kidnap for ransom has become the most significant issue in tackling terrorist financing and remains a grave threat to the nationals of all countries," he said. "In the last three and a half years, we estimate that AQ (Al-Qaeda) -affiliated and other Islamist extremist groups have collected at least 105 million US dollars in ransom payments. "The payment of such ransoms enables terrorists to increase recruitment, strengthens their ability to organise and carry out terrorist attacks, and provides an incentive for future kidnaps," Hague went on. "This resolution makes clear the Security Council's unity and commitment to addressing this ever growing threat and to breaking the vicious cycle of ransom payments strengthening terrorist groups and leading to further kidnapping," he added. The resolution calls on all UN Member States to prevent terrorists from benefiting directly or indirectly from ransom payments and expresses the Council's determination to secure the safe release of hostages without ransom payments or political concessions. For the first time the Council calls on Member States to work with the private sector to respond to terrorist kidnappings without paying ransoms.