PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CONCERNING WORKING GROUP ON GENERAL ISSUES OF SANCTIONS

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CONCERNING

WORKING GROUP ON GENERAL ISSUES OF SANCTIONS

Following is the text of a statement made to the press today by Security Council President Stefan Tafrov (Bulgaria):

Under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Martin Belinga-Eboutou of the Republic of Cameroon during 2002 and 2003, the Informal Working Group of the Security Council on General Issues of Sanctions has met in both formal and informal sessions to consider a draft outcome document concerning the Council’s use of sanctions as a policy instrument.

The Working Group discussed and reached consensus on many issues in the outcome document concerning sanctions design, administration and implementation.  Many of these recommendations and proposals have already been put into practice by the Security Council or Sanctions Committees.

Members of the Working Group have also familiarized themselves with the results of the Interlaken, Bonn-Berlin and Stockholm Processes.  The Group finds the ideas and recommendations generated in the three processes very useful as they contribute to the fine-tuning and effective implementation of sanctions.

Despite concerted efforts by the Chairman and members of the Group, there remain divergent views on the recommended duration and termination of sanctions.  The members of the Working Group agree to continue working towards achieving a consensus on these issues.

On 18 December 2003, Council members agreed to extend the current mandate of the Group for one more year.

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