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National News
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| France to impose financial sanctions on Masood Azhar | | | |  France March 15(Agencies)
France says it will freeze Masood Azhar's French assets a day after China blocked a UNSC resolution to designate the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief as a global terrorist; Commits to raising issue with European partners; France is a co-sponsor to the resolution.
France has decided to freeze all assets of Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, JeM chief Masood Azhar, in application of the country's Monetary and Financial Code.
The French government's Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, said, France has always been and always will be by India's side in the fight against terrorism. It said, France has decided to sanction Masood Azhar at the national level by freezing his assets in application of the Monetary and Financial Code.
A joint statement issued by the French interior ministry, finance ministry and foreign ministry said that France would raise the issue with its European partners with a view to including Masood Azhar on the European Union list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts.
The decision comes after China blocked the UNSC bid to designate Azhar as global terrorist on Wednesday. France, was one of the main initiators of the proposal.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India has secured an unprecedented support from the international community for listing of Masood Azhar under the UN Sanctions Committee.
In a series of tweets, Swaraj Swraj said, this year the proposal was moved by USA, France and UK and supported by 14 of the 15 UN Security Council Members and also co-sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Italy and Japan-non members of the Security Council this year.
The Minister said, the proposal has been mooted four times in the UN to list Azhar as a global terrorist.
In 2009, India under the UPA Government was the lone proposer whereas India's proposal was co-sponsored by the US, France and UK, in 2016. Swaraj said, in 2017, USA, UK and France moved the proposal. While, in 2019, the proposal was moved by USA, France and UK and supported by 14 of the 15 UN Security Council Members and also co-sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Italy and Japan - non members of the Security Council. | | | | |
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