Security Council

6761^st Meeting (AM)

Security Council Extends Modified Arms Embargo, Full Diamond Trade Ban for One

Year in Côte d’Ivoire, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2045 (2012)

Also Renews Mandate of Expert Panel, Requests Midterm, Final Reports;

Urges Authorities to Implement Plan on Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds

To further Security Council support for Côte d’Ivoire’s fragile peace process, members today unanimously adopted a set of renewed and modified sanctions and extended an expert panel’s mandate to monitor the situation.

Adopting resolution 2045 (2012), the Council modified arms sanctions set to expire next month and, for a period ending 30 April 2013, called on all States to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to Côte d’Ivoire, from their territories, by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and any related materiel.  The modified sanctions carried exemptions, including for arms and related equipment intended to enable the Ivorian security forces to use appropriate and proportionate force while maintaining public order, and arms and other equipment for support of the security sector reform process.

Also by the resolution, the Council stressed that the Ivorian Government should mark the arms and related materiel when received in its territory and should maintain a registry.

Further, the Council decided to renew until 30 April 2013 the measures preventing the importation by any State of all rough diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005), as well as the financial and travel measures imposed by resolution 1572 (2004).

The Council also requested the Group of Experts to continue its work and to submit a midterm report to the Security Council Committee by 15 October 2012, as well as a final report containing recommendations and a discussion of possible steps for clarifying methodological standards for monitoring mechanisms. 

The 2011 Group of Experts’ final report was transmitted to the Council today prior to voting, in a letter dated 11 April 2012 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) (document S/2012/259).  The 2011 report stated that, in addition to sanctions violations, large amounts of weapons circulating in the country due to the crisis that began in 2002 remain unaccounted for, even though the sanctions regime imposed in 2004 had prevented the importation of heavy weapons systems.

After the vote, Youssoufou Bamba, the representative of Côte d’Ivoire, welcomed the resolution for, among other elements, requiring a reassessment of the security sector reform and initiatives on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.

Providing a snapshot of key events that had taken place in his country since the adoption of resolution 1980 (2011), Mr. Bamba said that, while security had improved in general, challenges remained, including a precarious situation along the border of Liberia.  Major financial efforts had restored the national road infrastructure and communication networks and energy and production sectors had been bolstered. 

National reconciliation was also well under way, he said, highlighting ongoing dialogue with the opposition parties.  An inter-ministerial body was set up regarding the sanctions.  In addition, his country was working towards membership in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, covering the trade in rough diamonds.

“The resolution has sent a strong message from the Council to Côte d’Ivoire to rise to the current challenges,” he said.  “The security and stability of the countries in the region were victims to terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.  The United Nations and the international community should continue to provide assistance to countries to help them fight those scourges.”

The meeting began at 10:07 and ended at 10:19 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2045 (2012) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President relating to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, in particular resolutions 1880 (2009), 1893 (2009), 1911 (2010), 1933 (2010), 1946 (2010), 1962 (2010), 1975 (2011), 1980 (2011), 2000 (2011),

“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 special report of the Secretary-General dated 29 March 2012 (S/2012/186), of the 2011 midterm report (S/2011/642) and of the Final 2012 report (S/2012/196) of the United Nations Group of Experts,

“Recognizing the continued contribution to the stability in Côte d’Ivoire of the measures imposed by resolutions 1572 (2004), 1643 (2005), 1975 (2011) and 1980 (2011) and stressing that these measures aim at supporting the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire,

“Welcoming the steady progress and achievements Côte d’Ivoire has made in the past months in returning to stabilization, notably by holding parliamentary elections as certified by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, addressing immediate security challenges, advancing economic recovery and strengthening international and regional cooperation,

“Acknowledging the efforts by all the Ivorians to promote national reconciliation and consolidation of peace through dialogue and consultation, encouraging the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission to make further progress in this direction and welcoming the assistance of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in this regard,

“Remaining concerned about the unresolved challenge of security sector reform (SSR) and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), as well as the circulation of weapons, which continue to be significant risks to the stability of the country, and welcoming the creation of a DDR and SSR working group by the Ivorian Government and other efforts to address seriously these challenges,

“Welcoming the enhanced cooperation of the Ivorian Government with the Group of Experts, originally established pursuant to paragraph 7 of resolution 1584 (2004), during the course of its last mandate renewed by resolution 1980 (2011),

“Acknowledging the urgent need for the Ivorian Government to train and equip its security forces, especially the police and gendarmerie with standard policing weapons and ammunition,

“Emphasizing the importance of the Ivoirian Government to be able to respond proportionately to threats to the security of all citizens in Côte d’Ivoire and calling on the Ivorian Government to ensure that its security forces remain committed to upholding human rights and applicable international law,

“Calling on the Ivorian Government to ratify and implement the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Associated Materials,

“Expressing concern on the findings of the Group of Experts on the illegal taxations system put in place, increasing criminality throughout the territory and the lack of capacity and resources available for the control of borders,

“Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) on women, peace and security, its resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011) on children and armed conflict and its resolutions 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts,

“Reiterating its firm condemnation of all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Côte d’Ivoire, condemning all violence committed against civilians, including women, children, internally displaced persons and foreign nationals, and other violations and abuses of human rights, and stressing that the perpetrators must be brought to justice, whether in domestic or international courts, and welcoming the close cooperation of the Ivorian Government with the International Criminal Court in this regard,

“Stressing the importance for the Group of Experts to be provided with the sufficient resources for the implementation of its mandate,

“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 that the measures on arms and related materiel, previously imposed by paragraph 7 and 8 of resolution 1572 (2004), are replaced by paragraph 2, 3 and 4 below and shall no longer apply to the provision of training, advice and expertise related to security and military activities, as well as to the supplies of civilian vehicles to the Ivorian security forces;

“2.   Decides, for a period ending on 30 April 2013, that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to Côte d’Ivoire, from their territories or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and any related materiel, whether or not originating in their territories;

“3.   Decidesthat the measures imposed by paragraph 2 above shall not apply to:

(a)   supplies intended solely for the support of or use by the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and the French forces who support them;

(b)   supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use, as notified in advance to the Committee established by paragraph 14 of resolution 1572 (2004);

(c)   supplies of protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Côte d’Ivoire by United Nations personnel, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel, for their personal use only;

(d)   supplies temporarily exported to Côte d’Ivoire to the forces of a State which is taking action, in accordance with international law, solely and directly to facilitate the evacuation of its nationals and those for whom it has consular responsibility in Côte d’Ivoire, as notified in advance to the Committee established by paragraph 14 of resolution 1572 (2004);

(e)   supplies of non-lethal law enforcement equipment intended to enable the Ivorian security forces to use only appropriate and proportionate force while maintaining public order, as notified in advance to the Committee established by paragraph 14 of resolution 1572 (2004);

(f)   supplies of arms and other related lethal equipment to the Ivorian security forces, intended solely for support of or use in the Ivorian process of SSR, as approved in advance by the Committee established by paragraph 14 of resolution 1572 (2004);

“4.   Decides, for the period referred to in paragraph 2 above, that the Ivorian authorities shall notify in advance to the Committee any shipment of items referred to in paragraph 3 (e) or shall request an approval in advance to the Committee for any shipment of items referred to in paragraph 3 (f) above, stressesthe importance that such notifications or requests contain all relevant information, including the purpose of the use and end user, the technical specifications and quantity of the equipment to be shipped and, when applicable, the supplier, the proposed date of delivery, mode of transportation and itinerary of shipments;

“5.   Urges the Ivorian Government to allow the Group of Experts and UNOCI access to the exempted materiel at the time of import and before the transfer to the end user takes place, stresses that the Ivorian Government shall mark the arms and related materiel when received in the territory of Côte d’Ivoire and maintain a registry of them and expresses its willingness to consider an extension of the notification procedure to all embargo exemptions at the midterm review referred to below in paragraph 7, in accordance with progress achieved in relation to DDR and SSR;

“6.   Decides to renew until 30 April 2013 the financial and travel measures imposed by paragraphs 9 to 12 of resolution 1572 (2004) and paragraph 12 of resolution 1975 (2011) and further decides to renew until 30 April 2013 the measures preventing the importation by any State of all rough diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005);

“7.   Decidesto review the measures decided in paragraph 2, 3, 4, above in light of the progress achieved in the stabilization throughout the country, by the end of the period mentioned in paragraph 2, and decides furtherto carry out a midterm review of the measures decided in paragraph 2, 3, 4 above no later than 31 October 2012, with a view to possibly further modifying all or part of the remaining measures of the sanctions regime, in accordance with progress achieved in relation to DDR and SSR, national reconciliation and the fight against impunity;

“8.   Calls upon all Member States, in particular those in the subregion, to fully implement the measures mentioned in paragraph 2 and 6 above, calls also upon UNOCI to lend its full support within its capacities and mandate and further calls upon the French forces to support UNOCI in this regard, within the limits of their deployment and their capabilities;

“9.   Urgesall illegal Ivorian armed combatants, including in neighbouring countries, to lay down their arms immediately, encourages UNOCI, within its mandate and limits of capabilities and areas of deployment, to continue to assist the Ivorian Government in collecting and storing the arms and registering all relevant information related to those arms and further calls upon the Ivorian Government, including the National Commission to fight against the Proliferation and Illicit Traffic of Small Arms and Light Weapons, to ensure that those arms are neutralized or not illegally disseminated, in accordance with the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Associated Materials;

“10. Recalls that UNOCI, within the monitoring of the arms embargo, is mandated to collect, as appropriate, arms and any related materiel brought into Côte d’Ivoire in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of resolution 1572 (2004) as amended by paragraph 1, 2 above, and to dispose of such arms and related materiel as appropriate;

“11. Expresses its deep concern about the presence of mercenaries in Côte d’Ivoire, notably from neighbouring countries, and calls upon the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia to coordinate their action to solve this issue, encourages UNOCI and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), within their respective mandates, capabilities and areas of deployment, to continue to coordinate closely in assisting respectively the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia in monitoring their border, with particular attention to any cross-border movement of combatants or transfer of arms and welcomes further cooperation between the Group of Experts and the Panel of Experts on Liberia appointed pursuant to paragraph 4 of resolution 1854 (2008);

“12.  Reiterates the necessity for the Ivorian authorities to provide unhindered access to the Group of Experts, as well as UNOCI and the French forces which support it, to equipment, sites and installations referred to in paragraph 2 (a) of resolution 1584 (2005), and to all weapons, ammunition and related materiel of all armed security forces, regardless of location, including the arms issued from the collection referred to in paragraph 9 above, when appropriate without notice, as set out in its resolutions 1739 (2007), 1880 (2009), 1933 (2010), 1962 (2010) and 1980 (2011);

“13.  Reiterating its commitment to impose targeted measures as expressed in paragraph 10 of resolution 1980 (2011);

“14.  Requests all States concerned, in particular those in the subregion, to cooperate fully with the Committee, and authorizes the Committee to request whatever further information it may consider necessary;

“15.  Decides to extend the mandate of the Group of Experts as set out in paragraph 7 of resolution 1727 (2006) until 30 April 2013 and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to support its action;

“16.  Requests the Group of Experts to submit a midterm report to the Committee by 15 October 2012 and to submit a final report as well as recommendations to the Security Council through the Committee 15 days before the end of its mandated period, on the implementation of the measures imposed by paragraphs 2 above, 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004), paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005), paragraph 12 of resolution 1975 (2011) and paragraph 10 of resolution 1980 (2011);

“17.  Decides that the report of the Group of Experts, as referred to in paragraph 7 (e) of resolution 1727 (2006) may include, as appropriate, any information and recommendations relevant to the Committee’s possible additional designation of the individuals and entities described in paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004) and paragraph 10 of resolution 1980 (2011) and further recalls the Informal Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions report (S/2006/997) on best practices and methods, including paragraphs 21, 22 and 23 that discuss possible steps for clarifying methodological standards for monitoring mechanisms;

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

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

“20.  Requests also the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to communicate as appropriate to the Security Council, through the Committee, information which, where possible, has been reviewed by the Group of Experts, concerning the production and illicit export of diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire and further decides to renew the exemptions set out by paragraph 16 and 17 of resolution 1893 (2009) with regard to the securing of samples of rough diamonds for scientific research purposes coordinated by the Kimberley Process;

“21. Urges the Ivorian authorities to create and implement an action plan to enforce the Kimberley Process rules in Côte d’Ivoire and further encourages them to closely work with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to conduct a review and assessment of Côte d’Ivoire’s internal controls system for trade in rough diamonds and a comprehensive geologic study of Côte d’Ivoire’s potential diamond resources and production capacity, with a view to possibly modifying or lifting, as appropriate, the measures imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005);

“22. Calls upon the Ivorian authorities to combat the illegal taxation systems that remain in place, to take the necessary steps to continue to re-establish and reinforce relevant institutions and to continue to deploy customs and border control officials throughout the country, in the North, West and East of the country, asks the Group of Experts to assess the effectiveness of these border measures and control in the region, encourages calls upon all neighbouring States to be aware of Ivorian efforts in that regard and encourages UNOCI, within its mandate, to assist the Ivorian authorities in the re-establishment of normal customs and border control operation;

“23.  Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and other organizations and interested parties, 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 2 and 5 above, paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004), paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005) and paragraph 12 of resolution 1975 (2011), and further requests the Group of Experts to coordinate its activities as appropriate with all political actors;

“24. Recalls paragraph 7 of 1960 (2010) and paragraph 9 of 1998 (2011), regarding sexual and gender-based violence and children in armed conflict and welcomes the information-sharing between the Committee and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and for Sexual Violence in Conflict, in accordance with their respective mandates and as appropriate;

“25. Decides that the Committee should update its guidelines taking into account paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 above, within three months from the date of adoption of this resolution, in order to facilitate the implementation of the measures imposed by this resolution, and keep them under active review as may be necessary;

“26.  Urges further in this context that all Ivorian parties and all States, particularly those in the region, ensure:

–     the safety of the members of the Group of Experts;

–     unhindered access by the Group of Experts, in particular to persons, documents and sites in order for the Group of Experts to execute its mandate;

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

Background

The Security Council had before it the final report of the Group of Experts on Côte d’Ivoire transmitted by a letter dated 11 April 2012 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) concerning Côte d’Ivoire addressed to the President of the Security Council (document S/2012/196), which states that a large amount of weapons circulating in the country due to the crisis that began in 2002 remain unaccounted for, even though the sanctions regime imposed in 2004 had prevented the import of heavy weapons systems.

In that context, the report documents numerous violations of the sanctions regime and provides recommendations on strengthened implementation, including the dismantling of trafficking networks described in the report, registration of arms and ammunition according to a predefined template and better access to all necessary information by the Group, as well as actions related to finance, customs and transport and diamond certification.  It also recommends measures to be taken in regard to individual sanctions.

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For information media • not an official record