PRESS CONFERENCE ON SANCTIONS BY SWEDEN

PRESS CONFERENCE ON SANCTIONS BY SWEDEN

Sanctions offered a peaceful approach to addressing global conflicts, when words were not enough but military action was not desirable, Hans Dahlgren, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, said today at a Headquarters press conference.

However, he added that, because comprehensive sanctions, which affected all sectors of society, hurt innocent civilians and damaged international trade relations, smarter, more targeted sanctions were needed.  Such sanctions would only be directed against significant national decision-makers and resources that were essential for their rule.

Speaking after Mr. Dahlgren, Peter Wallensteen, Dag Hammarskjold Professor of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, summarized the recommendations of the Stockholm process on the implementation of targeted sanctions, which was presented today to the Security Council.

First, he said, because sanctions had not been sufficiently effective in countries such as Iraq and Liberia, the resolutions that concerned them needed to be designed with implementation in mind.  In that regard, the Security Council and United Nations Secretariat had to be involved and committed from the earliest drafting stages.

Further, effective sanctions required capacity-building and training programs, he continued.  In other words, since implementation could be a strain on a State’s resources, it was necessary for Member States to help provide the support required by those working in the police, customs, transportation, and financial sectors.

He added that it was crucial to maintain accuracy in sanctions targeting.  For example, if an individual’s assets were being frozen, their name and profile had to be made available to, and consulted by, the relevant officials.

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