Security Council

5720^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF GROUP MONITORING SOMALIA ARMS EMBARGO

FOR SIX MONTHS, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 1766 (2007)

Condemning an inflow of weapons that continued to threaten peace and security in Somalia, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the Group it established in 2004 to monitor the arms embargo on that country for an additional six months.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1766 (2007), the Council requested the expert Group to continue to investigate, in coordination with relevant international agencies, violations of the weapons ban, means of transport for illicit arms and activities that generate revenues to fund weapons purchases.

It also requested the Group to work closely with the Council committee on the embargo to develop recommendations for additional measures to improve compliance and to identify ways in which States in the region could be assisted to facilitate implementation of the sanctions regime.

The arms embargo was imposed on Somalia in 1992, a year after President Muhammad Siad Barre’s regime was toppled.  The country has had no functioning national Government since then and has been wracked by factional fighting.

The meeting opened at 11:34 a.m. and adjourned at 11:37 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1766 (2007) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Reaffirming its previous resolutions and the statements of its President concerning the situation in Somalia, in particular resolution 733 (1992) of 23 January 1992, which established an embargo on all delivery of weapons and military equipment to Somalia (hereinafter referred to as the “arms embargo”), resolution 1519 (2003) of 16 December 2003, resolution 1558 (2004) of 17 August 2004, resolution 1587 (2005) of 15 March 2005, resolution 1630 (2005) of 14 October 2005, resolution 1676 (2006) of 10 May 2006, resolution 1724 (2006) of 29 November 2006 and resolution 1744 (2007) of 20 February 2007,

“Recalling that, as set out in its resolution 1744 (2007), the arms embargo on Somalia does not apply to supplies and technical assistance by States intended solely for the purpose of helping develop security sector institutions, consistent with the political process set out in that resolution and in the absence of a negative decision by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992),

“Reaffirming the importance of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia,

“Stressing the need for the Transitional Federal Institutions to continue working towards establishing effective national governance in Somalia,

“Reiterating the urgent need for all Somali leaders to take tangible steps to continue political dialogue,

“Commending the efforts of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the League of Arab States for their continued support for national reconciliation in Somalia, and urging the Transitional Federal Institutions, clans, business leaders, civil society, religious leaders and other Somali political leaders to work together to ensure an effective National Reconciliation Congress and to guarantee security for it in order to make progress in the political process in Somalia,

“Reiterating its strong support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General,

“Taking note of the report of the Monitoring Group dated 17 July 2007 (S/2007/436) submitted pursuant to paragraph 3 (i) of resolution 1724 (2006) and the observations and recommendations contained therein,

“Condemning flows of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through Somalia in violation of the arms embargo as a serious threat to peace and stability in Somalia,

“Reiterating its insistence that all Member States, in particular those in the region, should refrain from any action in contravention of the arms embargo and should take all necessary steps to hold violators accountable,

“Reiterating and underscoring the importance of enhancing the monitoring of the arms embargo in Somalia through persistent and vigilant investigation into the violations, bearing in mind that strict enforcement of the arms embargo will improve the overall security situation in Somalia,

“Determining that the situation in Somalia continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,

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

“1.   Stresses the obligation of all Member States to comply fully with the measures imposed by resolution 733 (1992);

“2.   Expresses its intention, in light of the report of the Monitoring Group dated 17 July 2007 (S/2007/436), to consider specific action to improve implementation of and compliance with measures imposed by resolution 733 (1992);

“3.   Decides to extend the mandate of the Monitoring Group referred to in paragraph 3 of resolution 1558 (2004) and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative measures as expeditiously as possible to re-establish the Monitoring Group for a further six months, drawing, as appropriate, on the expertise of the members of the Monitoring Group established pursuant to resolution 1724 (2006) and appointing new members as necessary in consultation with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”), this mandate being as follows:

(a)   to continue the tasks outlined in paragraphs 3 (a) to (c) of resolution 1587 (2005);

(b)   to continue to investigate, in coordination with relevant international agencies, all activities, including in the financial, maritime and other sectors, which generate revenues used to commit arms embargo violations;

(c)   to continue to investigate any means of transport, routes, seaports, airports and other facilities used in connection with arms embargo violations;

(d)   to continue refining and updating information on the draft list of those individuals and entities who violate the measures implemented by Member States in accordance with resolution 733 (1992), inside and outside Somalia, and their active supporters, for possible future measures by the Council, and to present such information to the Committee as and when the Committee deems appropriate;

(e)   to continue making recommendations based on its investigations, on the previous reports of the Panel of Experts (S/2003/223 and S/2003/1035) appointed pursuant to resolutions 1425 (2002) of 22 July 2002 and 1474 (2003) of 8 April 2003, and on the previous reports of the Monitoring Group (S/2004/604, S/2005/153, S/2005/625, S/2006/229, S/2006/913, and S/2007/436) appointed pursuant to resolutions 1519 (2003) of 16 December 2003, 1558 (2004) of 17 August 2004, 1587 (2005) of 15 March 2005, 1630 (2005) of 14 October 2005, 1676 (2006) of 10 May 2006, and 1724 (2006) of 29 November 2006;

(f)   to work closely with the Committee on specific recommendations for additional measures to improve overall compliance with the arms embargo;

(g)   to assist in identifying areas where the capacities of States in the region can be strengthened to facilitate the implementation of the arms embargo;

(h)   to provide to the Council, through the Committee, a midterm briefing within 90 days from its establishment, and to submit progress reports to the Committee on a monthly basis;

(i)   to submit, for the Security Council’s consideration, through the Committee, a final report covering all the tasks set out above, no later than 15 days prior to the termination of the Monitoring Group’s mandate;

“4.   Further requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary financial arrangements to support the work of the Monitoring Group;

“5.   Reaffirms paragraphs 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10 of resolution 1519 (2003);

“6.   Requests the Committee, in accordance with its mandate and in consultation with the Monitoring Group and other relevant United Nations entities, to consider the recommendations in the reports of the Monitoring Group dated 5 April, 16 October 2006, and 17 July 2007 and recommend to the Council ways to improve implementation of and compliance with the arms embargo, in response to continuing violations;

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

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For information media • not an official record