Security Council

5592^nd Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS CÔTE D’IVOIRE ARMS, DIAMOND BANS UNTIL 31 OCTOBER 2007,

UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1727 (2006)

 

Also Extends Monitoring Group for Further Six Months

The Security Council, determining that the situation in Côte d’Ivoire continued to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region, today renewed until 31 October 2007 the arms and rough diamond bans it had imposed on Côte d’Ivoire under, respectively, resolutions 1572 (2004) and 1643 (2005).

Unanimously adopting resolution 1727 (2006) under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Council decided to review the embargoes at the end of that period and, in light of progress accomplished in the peace and national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire as referred to in resolution 1721 (2006), expressed its readiness to consider the measures’ modification or termination ahead of time, if it determined that the provisions of its resolutions had been fully implemented.

In a related term, the Council extended for another six months the mandate of the Group of Experts it had created to monitor the arms embargo.  It demanded that all Ivorian parties, including the transitional Government and the Forces nouvelles, provide unhindered access to equipment, sites and installations to the Group, as well as to the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and French forces that support it, to enable them to carry out their tasks, reiterating that any serious obstacle to the freedom of movement was a threat to the peace and national reconciliation process.

By a further term, the Council requested all States concerned, particularly those in the region, to report to the Committee established by resolution 1572 (2004) within 90 days of adoption of the resolution on the practical steps they had taken to implement the measures imposed by the relevant terms in resolutions 1572 (2004) and resolution 1643 (2005).  It authorized the Committee to request whatever further information it considered necessary.

The Council underlined that it was fully prepared to impose targeted measures against persons to be designated by the Committee who were determined to be, among other things, a threat to the peace and national reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire, attacking or obstructing the action of UNOCI or the French forces that support it, responsible for serious human rights violations or publicly inciting hatred and violence.

The meeting began at 10:24 a.m. and was adjourned at 10:27 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of Security Council resolution 1727 (2006) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President relating to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire,

“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Côte d’Ivoire, and recalling the importance of the principles of good-neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation,

“Taking note of the reports of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Côte d’Ivoire dated 5 October 2006 (S/2006/735) and 12 December 2006 (S/2006/964),

“Expressing its serious concern at the persistence of the crisis and the deterioration of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, including its grave humanitarian consequences causing large-scale civilian suffering and displacement,

“Determining that the situation in Côte d’Ivoire continues to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region,

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Decides to renew until 31 October 2007 the provisions of paragraphs 7 to 12 of resolution 1572 (2004) and of paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005);

“2.   Demands that all Ivorian parties, including the transitional Government and the Forces nouvelles, provide unhindered access, particularly to the Group of Experts established pursuant to paragraph 9 of resolution 1643 (2005), to equipment, sites and installations referred to in paragraph 2 (a) of resolution 1584 (2005), and to UNOCI and French forces which support it to enable them to carry out the tasks set out in paragraphs 2 and 12 of resolution 1609 (2005);

“3.   Reiterates that any serious obstacle to the freedom of movement of UNOCI and of the French forces which support it, or any attack or obstruction to the action of UNOCI, of the French forces, of the High Representative for the Elections, of the International Working Group (IWG), of the Mediator mentioned in paragraph 20 of resolution 1721 (2006) or his representative in Côte d’Ivoire constitutes a threat to the peace and national reconciliation process for purposes of paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004);

“4.   Requests the Secretary-General and the French Government to report to it immediately, through the Committee established by paragraph 14 of resolution 1572 (2004) (the Committee), of any serious obstacle to the freedom of movement of UNOCI and of the French forces which support it, including the names of those responsible, and requests also the High Representative for the elections, the IWG, the Mediator mentioned in paragraph 20 of resolution 1721 (2006) or his representative in Côte d’Ivoire to report to it immediately, through the Committee, any attack or obstruction to their action;

“5.   Requests all States concerned, in particular those in the region, to report to the Committee, within 90 days from the date of adoption of this resolution, on the practical steps they have taken to implement the measures imposed by paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004) and by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005), and authorizes the Committee to request whatever further information it may consider necessary;

“6.   Decides that, at the end of the period mentioned in paragraph 1 above, the Security Council shall review the measures imposed by paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004), paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005) and reiterated inparagraph 3 above, in the light of progress accomplished in the peace and national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire as referred to in resolution 1721 (2006), and expresses its readiness to consider the modification or termination of these measures before the aforesaid period only if the provisions of resolution 1721 (2006) have been fully implemented;

“7.   Decides to extend the mandate of the Group of Experts for a further six months, and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative measures as expeditiously as possible, drawing, as appropriate, on the expertise of the members of the Group of Experts and appointing new members as necessary in consultation with the Committee, this mandate being as follows:

(a)   To exchange information with UNOCI and the French forces in the context of their monitoring mandate set out in paragraphs 2 and 12 of resolution 1609 (2005);

(b)   To gather and analyse all relevant information in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere, in cooperation with the governments of those countries, on flows of arms and related materiel, on provision of assistance, advice or training related to military activities, on networks operating in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of resolution 1572 (2004), and on the sources of financing, including from the exploitation of natural resources in Côte d’Ivoire, for purchases of arms and related materiel and activities;

(c)   To consider and recommend, where appropriate, ways of improving the capabilities of States, in particular those in the region, to ensure the effective implementation of the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of resolution 1572 (2004) and by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005);

“(d)  To seek further information regarding the action taken by States with a view to implementing effectively the measures imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005);

(e)   To report to the Security Council in writing before 15 June 2007, through the Committee, on the implementation of the measures imposed by paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004) and paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005), with recommendations in this regard;

(f)   To keep the Committee regularly updated on its activities;

(g)   To provide the Committee in its reports with evidence of any violations of the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of resolution 1572 (2004) and paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005);

(h)   To cooperate with other relevant groups of experts, in particular that established on Liberia by resolutions 1521 (2003) and 1579 (2004);

(i)   To monitor the implementation of the individual measures set out in paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004);

“8.   Requests the Secretary-General to communicate as appropriate to the Security Council, through the Committee, information gathered by UNOCI and, when possible, reviewed by the Group of Experts, about the supply of arms and related materiel to Côte d’Ivoire;

“9.   Requests also the French Government to communicate as appropriate to the Security Council, through the Committee, information gathered by the French forces and, when possible, reviewed by the Group of Experts, about the supply of arms and related materiel to Côte d’Ivoire;

“10.  Requests also the Kimberley Process to communicate as appropriate to the Security Council, through the Committee, information and, when possible, reviewed by the Group of Experts, about the production and illicit export of diamonds;

“11.  Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and other organizations and interested parties, including the Kimberley Process, to cooperate fully with the Committee, the Group of Experts, UNOCI and the French forces, in particular by supplying any information at their disposal on possible violations of the measures imposed by paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004), paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005) and reiterated in paragraph 3 above;

“12.  Underlines that it is fully prepared to impose targeted measures against persons to be designated by the Committee who are determined to be, among other things:

(a)   A threat to the peace and national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire, in particular byblocking the implementation of the peace process as referred to in resolution 1721 (2006);

(b)   Attacking or obstructing the action of UNOCI, of the French forces which support it, of the High Representative for the Elections, of the IWG, of the Mediator or his representative in Côte d’Ivoire;

(c)   Responsible for obstacles to the freedom of movement of UNOCI and of the French forces which support it;

(d)   Responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in Côte d’Ivoire;

(e)   Inciting publicly hatred and violence;

(f)   Acting in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of resolution 1572 (2004);

“13.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

Background

When the Council met, it had before it a letter dated 13 September from Adamantios Th. Vassilakis (Greece), the Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) concerning Côte d’Ivoire, addressed to the Council’s President, transmitting the report of the Group of Experts on Côte d’Ivoire.

According to its report, the Group found no evidence of gross violations of Security Council measures, including an arms embargo, a travel ban for persons designated by the Committee, as well as a freeze of assets of those persons.  However, there were a number of incidents that the Group believed do constitute violations of those measures, which should be urgently addressed by the Committee.  Moreover, the inspection process by UNOCI must be reviewed, as maintaining the status quo is potentially hazardous.  If there is a serious deterioration of the peace process, the monitoring system could be easily circumnavigated, the report states.

As an example of such incidents, the Group mentioned the discovery of an end-user certificate 732 for the purchase of 450,000 rounds of ammunition and 200 RPG-7 rockets, which claims to be issued by Burkina Faso on 13 June 2005, but might be a falsification.

Also, the Group has identified nationals of Liberia, Belarus, the Russian Federation and probably Ukraine who continue to provide assistance, advice and training to militia groups.  The continued maintenance and testing of a Mil Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter by the Force aérienne de Côte d’Ivoire (FACI) is, according to the Group, an embargo violation and deepens mistrust between the parties.

The Group also concludes that Ivorian rough diamonds are being exported in violation of the United Nations embargo.  They initially transit Ghana and Mali prior to entering international markets.  The Group recommends that the poor internal controls, which are a regional problem, are made a key agenda item at the forthcoming Kimberley plenary meeting in Botswana in November.  It also recommends that UNOCI in Séguéla conduct regular inspections of Bobi dyke and its vicinity, where organized mining activity was observed.

The report states that the targeting of three Ivorian individuals in February by the Council as being subject to the travel ban and assets freeze made possible by resolution 1572 (2004) seemed to have had a calming affect.  However, targeting of additional individuals without effective monitoring and compliance systems in place in neighbouring States could be counter-productive.  As a matter of urgency, the Security Council Committee should request those States to provide details of how they are going to ensure that such measures are properly implemented.  As the three individuals expressed frustration that they heard about being targeted only through the media, the Committee’s Chairman may wish to meet those individuals.

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For information media • not an official record