8 April 2002

Sanctions against the state of Afghanistan were today lifted.

But sanctions on specified entities including Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda and the Taliban will remain in place.

Acting foreign affairs minister Jim Anderton said the Government was implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1390. It lifted sanctions against Afghanistan but continued the sanctions against UN-designated individuals and entities.

All members of the United Nations are legally obliged to implement the sanctions in their domestic law.

The regulations adopted by the Government today give effect to the Security Council resolution by:
Removing all references to ‘Taliban controlled areas and replacing them with a new definition of ‘specified entity’; thus removing sanctions against Afghanistan.
Imposing a ban on the entry into or transit through New Zealand of Osama bin Laden, members of the Taliban, members of Al Qaeda, and others designated as terrorists by the UN’s Security Council committee;
Continuing a ban on trade in arms;
Removing the ban on trade in acetic anhydride; and
Removing the prohibition on Taliban aircraft and aircraft flying from or to Taliban-controlled areas.

The sanctions were first imposed against the Taliban in Afghanistan in October 1999, following the bombings of American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. The international community condemned the use of Afghan territory for sheltering and training of terrorists and providing safe haven to Osama bin Laden.

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