SECURITY COUNCIL REQUESTS ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPERT PANEL TO INVESTIGATE ILLEGAL EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Press Release
SC/6871

SECURITY COUNCIL REQUESTS ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPERT PANEL TO INVESTIGATE ILLEGAL EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The Security Council this afternoon requested the Secretary-General to establish for a period of six months an expert panel on the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which should produce recommendations on the matter.

According to a statement read out by Council President Jean-David Levitte (France), the mandate of the panel should include collection of information on all activities on illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including those in violation of the sovereignty of that country, and research and analysis of the links between such exploitation and the continuation of the conflict. The Council requested that, once established, the panel should submit to it a preliminary report with initial findings after three months and a final report with recommendations at the end of its mandate.

Also by the presidential statement, the Council stressed that the expert panel, which will be based at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, might receive logistical support from the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and make visits to various countries of the region. The Council also underlined that the panel might call upon the technical expertise of the Secretariat and the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations, as required.

The Secretary-General was requested to appoint to the panel, which should consist of five members, including the Chairman, candidates with professional expertise, impartiality and knowledge of the subregion. The Chairman of the panel should be an eminent personality with the necessary experience. Voluntary contributions to support the panel would be welcomed.

The meeting, which was called to order at 2:01 p.m., was adjourned at 2:05 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of the statement, which will be issues as document S/PRST/2000/20, reads, as follows.

“The Security Council recalls the letter from the Secretary-General of 18 April 2000 (S/2000/334) and the letter from its President of 28 April 2000 (S/2000/350). The Council also recalls the letters from the Permanent

Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6871 4151st Meeting (PM) 2 June 2000

Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations to its President of 26 April 2000 (S/2000/362) and of 1 June 2000 (S/2000/515).

“The Security Council welcomes the recommendation made by its mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, contained in paragraph 77 of its report of 11 May 2000 (S/2000/416), to proceed with the early establishment of an expert panel on the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to establish this panel, for a period of six months, with the following mandate:

-- To follow up on reports and collect information on all activities of illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including in violation of the sovereignty of that country;

-- To research and analyse the links between the exploitation of the natural resources and other forms of wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the continuation of the conflict;

-- To revert to the Council with recommendations.

“The Security Council stresses that in order to implement its mandate, the expert panel, which will be based at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, may receive logistical support from the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and make visits to various countries of the region, making contact during its visits with diplomatic missions in the capitals concerned, and, if necessary, to other relevant countries.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to appoint the members of the panel, in consultation with the Council, on the basis of candidates' professional expertise, impartiality, and knowledge of the subregion. The Council stresses that the Chairman of the panel should be an eminent personality with the necessary experience and decides that the panel will consist of five members, including its Chairman. The Council underlines that the panel might call upon the technical expertise of the Secretariat and of the funds and programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations, as required. Voluntary contributions to support the panel would be welcomed.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to report to it on the steps taken to establish the expert panel. The Council requests also that the expert panel, once established, submit to the Council, through the Secretary- General, a preliminary report with initial findings after three months and a final report, with recommendations, at the end of its mandate.”

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