Security Council

6051^st Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS LIBERIA ARMS EMBARGO, TRAVEL BAN, ALSO APPROVES

ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF EXPERT MONITORING PANEL

 

Welcoming what it called the sustained progress made by the Government of Liberia in rebuilding the country for its citizens, the Security Council renewed restrictions imposed in 2003 on the import of arms and the travel of persons that had threatened the peace there for another 12 months.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1854 (2008), the Council also renewed until 20 December 2009 the mandate of the Expert Panel that helped monitor the implementation, violation and effectiveness of the sanctions, and requested the Secretary-General to reappoint its current members.

It encouraged the Government of Liberia to continue to cooperate with the Panel and to continue to implement the recommendations of the 2008 review team on the Kimberley Process, a mechanism established to keep “blood diamonds” from reaching world markets.

The meeting began at 10:14 a.m. and closed at 10:16 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1854 (2008) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the situation in Liberia and West Africa,

“Welcoming the sustained progress made by the Government of Liberia since January 2006, in rebuilding Liberia for the benefit of all Liberians, with the support of the international community,

“Recalling its decision not to renew the measures in paragraph 10 of resolution 1521 (2003) regarding round log and timber products originating in Liberia, and stressing that Liberia’s progress in the timber sector must continue with the effective implementation and enforcement of the National Forestry Reform Law signed into law on 5 October 2006, including the resolution of land and tenure rights, the conservation and protection of biodiversity, and the process for the awarding of contracts for commercial forestry operations,

“Recalling its decision to terminate the measures in paragraph 6 of resolution 1521 (2003) regarding diamonds, and welcoming the Government of Liberia’s participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, noting Liberia’s implementation of the necessary internal controls and other requirements of the Kimberley Process, and calling on the Government of Liberia to continue to work diligently to ensure the effectiveness of these controls,

“Recalling the statement of its President on 25 June 2007 (S/PRST/2007/22) recognizing the role of voluntary initiatives aimed at improving revenue transparency such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and noting General Assembly resolution 62/274 on strengthening transparency in industries, supports Liberia’s decision to inter alia take part in EITI and other extractive industry transparency initiatives and encourages Liberia’s continued progress in implementing their EITI work plan to improve revenue transparency,

“Stressing the continuing importance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in improving security through Liberia and helping the Government establish its authority throughout the country, particularly in the diamond, timber and other natural resources-producing regions, and border areas,

“Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia dated 16 December 2008 (S/2008/785), including on the issues of diamonds, timber, targeted sanctions, and arms and security,

“Having reviewed the measures imposed by paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) and the progress towards meeting the conditions set out by paragraph 5 of resolution 1521 (2003), and concluding that insufficient progress has been made towards that end,

“Underlining its determination to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts to meet those conditions, and encouraging donors to do likewise,

“Urging all parties to support the Government of Liberia in identifying and implementing measures that will ensure progress towards meeting the conditions set out by paragraph 5 of resolution 1521 (2003),

“Determining that, despite significant progress having been made in Liberia, the situation there 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.   Decides, on the basis of its assessment of progress made to date towards meeting the conditions for lifting the measures imposed by resolution 1521 (2003):

“(a)  To renew the measures on arms imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution 1521 (2003) and modified by paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1683 (2006) and by paragraph 1(b) of resolution 1731 (2006) and to renew the measures on travel imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) for a further period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution;

“(b)  That Member States shall notify the Committee established by paragraph 21 of resolution 1521 (2003) (“the Committee”) upon delivery of all arms and related materiel supplied in accordance with paragraph 2(e) or 2(f) of resolution 1521 (2003), paragraph 2 of resolution 1683 (2006), or paragraph 1(b) of resolution 1731;

“(c)  To review any of the above measures at the request of the Government of Liberia, once the Government reports to the Council that the conditions set out in resolution 1521 (2003) for terminating the measures have been met, and provides the Council with information to justify its assessment;

“2.   Recalls that the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) remain in force, notes with concern the findings of the Panel of Experts on the lack of progress in this regard, and calls on the Government of Liberia to continue to make all necessary efforts to fulfil its obligations;

“3.   Reconfirms its intention to review the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) at least once a year, and directs the Committee, in coordination with the relevant designating States and with the assistance of the Panel of Experts, to update as necessary the publicly available reasons for listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists as well as the Committee’s guidelines, particularly with regard to listing and delisting procedures;

“4.   Decides to extend the mandate of the current Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to paragraph 1 of resolution 1819 (2008) for a further period until 20 December 2009 to undertake the following tasks:

“(a)  To conduct two follow-up assessment missions to Liberia and neighbouring States, in order to investigate and compile a midterm and a final report on the implementation, and any violations, of the measures imposed by resolution 1521 (2003) and renewed in paragraph 1 above, including any information relevant to the designation by the Committee of the individuals described in paragraph 4(a) of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), and including the various sources of financing, such as from natural resources, for the illicit trade of arms;

“(b)  To assess the impact of and effectiveness of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), including particularly with respect to the assets of former President Charles Taylor;

“(c)  To assess the implementation of forestry legislation passed by the Liberian Congress on 19 September 2006 and signed into law by President Johnson Sirleaf on 5 October 2006;

“(d)  To assess the Government of Liberia’s compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and to coordinate with the Kimberley Process in assessing compliance;

“(e)  To provide a midterm report to the Council through the Committee by 1 June 2009 and a final report to the Council through the Committee by 20 December 2009 on all the issues listed in this paragraph, and to provide informal updates to the Committee as appropriate before those dates, especially on progress in the timber sector since the lifting of paragraph 10 of resolution 1521 (2003) in June 2006, and in the diamond sector since the lifting of paragraph 6 of resolution 1521 (2003) in April 2007;

“(f)  To cooperate actively with other relevant groups of experts, in particular that on Côte d’Ivoire re-established by paragraph 10 of resolution 1842 (2008), and with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;

“(g)  To identify and make recommendations regarding areas where the capacity of States in the region can be strengthened to facilitate the implementation of the measures imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004);

“(h)  To assist the Committee in updating the publicly available reasons for listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists;

“5.   Requests the Secretary-General to reappoint the current members of the Panel of Experts and to make the necessary financial and security arrangements to support the work of the Panel;

“6.   Calls upon all States and the Government of Liberia to cooperate fully with the Panel of Experts in all the aspects of its mandate;

“7.   Encourages the Government of Liberia to continue to implement the recommendations of the 2008 Kimberley Process review team to strengthen internal controls over diamond mining and export;

“8.   Encourages the Kimberley Process to continue to cooperate with the Panel of Experts and to report on developments regarding Liberia’s implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;

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

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For information media • not an official record