Security Council

6884^th Meeting* (PM)

Security Council Adopts Resolution 2079 (2012), Extending for One Year

Sanctions Regime in Liberia, Expert Panel Monitoring Measures

Demanding that the Government of Liberia fulfil its obligations to freeze the financial assets of former President Charles Taylor and his associates, the Security Council this afternoon extended for 12 months the sanctions regime on the country, along with the mandate of the expert panel monitoring the measures.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2079 (2012) under the Charter’s Chapter VII, the Council said it would keep the measures under review with a view to modifying or lifting them once it received adequate information that showed that conditions set out in resolution 1521 (2003) had been met, including transparent management of Liberian diamonds, timber and other resources.  Meanwhile, it urged Liberia and other relevant States to provide information for listing entries on the travel ban and asset freeze lists.

It called on the Government of Liberia to complete implementation of the recommendations of the 2009 review team for the Kimberley Process, a framework for certifying diamonds as not part of the illicit trade that could fuel conflict, and to improve transparent governance of all natural resources.

The Council restated the important role of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in assisting such Government efforts, and reaffirmed the need for the Mission to coordinate strategies on border areas with the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI).

For its consideration of the resolution, the Council had before it the final report of the Panel of Experts pursuant to resolution 2025 (2011) (document S/2012/901).

The meeting began at 3:08 p.m. and ended at 3:10 p.m.

Resolution

“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,

“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, and other new legislation related to revenue transparency (the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Act) and resolution of land and tenure rights (Community Rights Law with respect to Forest Lands and Lands Commission Act),

“Encouraging the Government of Liberia to reaffirm its commitment and redouble its efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in Liberia and to take all possible measures to prevent rough diamond smuggling,

“Encouraging the Government of Liberia to improve its control over the gold sector and adopt the necessary legislation in this regard, particularly in the regional offices, and focus its efforts on establishing effective governance of the gold production sector,

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

“Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia (S/2012/901),

“Underlining its determination to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts to meet the conditions of resolution 1521 (2003), welcoming the engagement of the Peacebuilding Commission, and encouraging all stakeholders, including donors, to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts,

“Acknowledging the implementation of the guidelines of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations on cooperation and information sharing between the United Nations peacekeeping missions and the Security Council’s Sanctions Committees’ expert panels,

“Calling on all Liberian leaders to promote meaningful reconciliation and inclusive dialogue to consolidate peace and advance Liberia’s democratic development,

“Determining that, despite significant progress, the situation in Liberia 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.   Reaffirms that the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) remain in force, notes with serious concern the lack of progress with regards to the implementation of the financial measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), and demands that the Government of Liberia make all necessary efforts to fulfil its obligations;

“2.   Decides for a period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution:

(a)   To renew the measures on travel imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003);

(b)   To renew the measures on arms, previously imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution 1521 (2003) and modified by paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1683 (2006), by paragraph 1 (b) of resolution 1731 (2006), by paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of resolution 1903 (2009), and by paragraph 3 of resolution 1961 (2010);

(c)   To review the measures in this paragraph and in paragraph 1 above in light of the progress achieved in the stabilization throughout the country, with a view to possibly modifying or lifting all or part of the measures of the sanctions regime, and that such a review shall be carried out at the end of the above-mentioned 12-month period, with a midterm review no later than 30 May 2013;

“3.   Decides further 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;

“4.   Urges the Government of Liberia and relevant designating States with the assistance of the Panel of Experts, to, as necessary and without delay, provide updated publicly available reasons for listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists;

“5.   Decides to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to paragraph 9 of resolution 1903 (2009) for a period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this resolution to undertake the following tasks in close collaboration with the Government of Liberia and the Cote d’Ivoire Group of Experts:

(a)   To conduct two follow-up assessment missions to Liberia and neighbouring States, to investigate and compile a midterm and a final report on the implementation, and any violations, of the measures on arms as amended by resolution 1903 (2009), 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, effectiveness, and continued need for the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), including particularly with respect to the assets of former President Charles Taylor;

(c)   To identify and make recommendations regarding areas where the capacity of Liberia and the 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);

(d)   Within the context of Liberia’s evolving legal framework, assess the extent to which forests and other natural resources are contributing to peace, security and development rather than to instability and to what extent relevant legislation (National Forestry Reform Law, Lands Commission Act, Community Rights Law with respect to Forest Land, and Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Act) and other reform efforts are contributing to this transition, and to provide recommendations on how such natural resources could better contribute to the country’s progress towards sustainable peace and stability;

(e)   To cooperate actively with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, including during a planned KP mission in 2013, and to assess the Government of Liberia’s compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;

(f)   To provide a midterm report to the Council through the Committee by 1 June 2013 and a final report to the Council through the Committee by 1 December 2013 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 forest 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;

(g)   To cooperate actively with other relevant panels of experts, in particular that on Côte d’Ivoire re-established by paragraph 13 of resolution 1980 (2011);

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

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

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

“8.   Recalls that responsibility for controlling the circulation of small arms within the territory of Liberia and between Liberia and neighbouring States rests with the relevant governmental authorities in accordance with the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons of 2006;

“9.   Reaffirms the need for UNMIL and the United Nations Operations in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) to regularly coordinate their strategies and operations in areas near the Liberian-Côte d’Ivoire border, to contribute to subregional security;

“10.  States the importance of UNMIL’s continuing assistance to the Government of Liberia, the Committee, and the Panel of Experts, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, and without prejudice to its mandate, continue to carry out its tasks set forth in previous resolutions, including resolution 1683 (2006);

“11.  Calls on the Government of Liberia to complete implementation of the recommendations of the 2009 Kimberley Process review team to strengthen internal controls over diamond mining and exports, particularly in the regional offices, and focus its efforts on improving responsible and transparent governance of natural resources;

“12.  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;

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

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*     The 6883^rd Meeting was closed.

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