News • December 07 2003

Authorities unperturbed by Al Qaeda report

Kurt Sansone
A United Nations report that identifies Malta as one of the countries where Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda may be active "in some way or other" does not seem to have perturbed Maltese authorities.
The report by the UN monitoring group on sanctions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban chides Malta, along with 108 other states for failing to submit its country report on measures being taken to enforce sanctions against the terrorist organisations and their associates.
The report singles out Malta and 24 other countries "because of information that would suggest that al-Qaeda or their associates may, in some way or other, be active within their borders."
The other European countries alongside Malta to get a particular mention are Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina.
However, government sources told MaltaToday the UN had praised Malta’s initial report. They added that the reason why Malta did not feature in the UN’s final document was because government had not yet submitted information on some clarifications demanded by the monitoring group.
Foreign Minister Joe Borg, who was in Nigeria for the Commonwealth meeting this week, could not be contacted for his comments. Nevertheless, replying to questions put to him by MaltaToday, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that ever since the 11 September attacks, Maltese authorities and law enforcement agencies have been "in close collaboration with similar agencies in other countries," and were taking the "necessary precautions."
Dr Borg added: "The only instance of a possible connection with al-Qaeda was that of a Tunisian national who resided in Italy and whilst temporarily in Malta was requested for interrogation by the Italian authorities. The Tunisian national in question decided to voluntarily return to Italy without the need for extradition proceedings."
The minister said the Tunisian "was not apparently involved in any operational aspect of al-Qaeda’s activities."
In its conclusions the UN report expresses serious disappointment because only 83 states submitted their country reports by the stipulated date.
"Eighty-three states accounts for less than half of the UN membership! When considered against the fact that some 4,000 members, supporters and associates of al-Qaeda have been arrested in no less than 102 countries, there is a serious question as to the extent to which states are looking to the UN resolution in this regard," the UN report states.
The UN resolution setting up the monitoring group also requires states to share lists of suspected al-Qaeda operatives and associate organisations operating within their territory.
But even here the report expresses its apprehension. "Recent visits by the Group to certain States indicated that there appeared to be little, or no, knowledge regarding the work of the Committee or the Monitoring Group and the availability of information about the Committee and its UN web site. This included a lack of knowledge concerning the posting of the List. This has significantly impeded and delayed the application of updated lists," the report says in no uncertain terms.
It also concludes that "many of the sources of funding for al-Qaeda have not yet been uncovered or blocked." The report states: "Al-Qaeda continues to have access to sufficient funds to recruit, train and mount operations."
kurt@newsworksltd.com