UN SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS UNSCR 1731 ON LIBERIA

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002294

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC UNSC PREL PGOV LI
SUBJECT: UN SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS UNSCR 1731 ON LIBERIA

REF: STATE 200387


1. On December 20, 2006, the Security Council unanimously
adopted UNSCR 1731, which extends diamond sanctions, the arms
embargo, and the travel ban. The new resolution also amends
the arms embargo to make it easier for Liberia to procure
non-lethal military equipment. UNSCR 1731 highlights the
existing assets freeze measures and extends the current panel
of experts for an additional six months.


2. BEGIN TEXT:

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,

Welcoming the Government of Liberia's continuing cooperation
with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and noting
Liberia's progress toward putting in place the necessary
internal controls and other requirements in order to satisfy
the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process,

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

Recognizing the need for newly vetted and trained Liberian
security forces to assume greater responsibility for national
security, and taking note of the need for Liberian armed
forces to procure humanitarian, medical and or training
equipment,

Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of
Experts on Liberia dated 20 December 2006 (S/2006/976),
including on the issues of diamonds, timber, rubber, and arms,

Having reviewed the measures imposed by paragraph 2, 4, and 6
of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532
(2004) and the progress towards meeting the conditions set
out by paragraphs 5 and 7 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,

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 toward 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 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 the measures on arms imposed by paragraph 2 (a) and
(b) of resolution 1521 (2003) shall not apply to supplies of
non-lethal military equipment, excluding non-lethal weapons
and ammunition, as notified in advance to the Committee
established by paragraph 21 of resolution 1521 (2003),
intended solely for use by members of the
Government of Liberia police and security forces who have
been vetted and trained since the inception of the United
Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in October 2003;

c. To renew the measures on diamonds imposed by paragraph 6
of resolution 1521 (2003) and renewed by paragraph 4 of
resolution 1689 (2006) for an additional six (6) months with
a review by the Council after four (4) months, to allow the
Government of Liberia sufficient time to establish an
effective Certificate of Origin regime for trade in Liberian
rough diamonds that is transparent and internationally
verifiable, with a view to joining the Kimberley Process, and
calls upon the government of Liberia to provide the Sanctions
Committee, established according to paragraph 21 of
resolution 1521 (2003) with a detailed description of the
proposed regime;

d. 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. Notes that the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of
resolution 1532 (2004) remain in force and reconfirms its
intention to review these measures at least once a year;


3. Encourages the Government of Liberia to benefit from
UNMIL's offer to provide joint patrols with the Forestry
Development Authority with a view to strengthening Government
control in forestry areas;


4. Decides to extend the mandate of the current Panel of
Experts appointed pursuant to paragraph 5 of resolution 1689
(2006) for a further period until 20 June 2007 to undertake
the following tasks:

a. To conduct a follow-up assessment mission to Liberia and
neighboring States, in order to investigate and compile a
report on the implementation, and any violations, of the
measures imposed by resolution 1521 (2003) and renewed in
paragraphs 1 and 2 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 and the progress and humanitarian and socio-economic
impact of the measures imposed by paragraphs 2, 4 and 6 of
resolution 1521 (2003) and renewed in paragraph 1 of
resolution 1647 (2005);

d. To report to the Council through the Committee by 6 June
2007 on all the issues listed in this paragraph, and to
provide informal updates to the Committee as appropriate
before that date, especially on progress towards meeting the
conditions for lifting the measures imposed by paragraph 6 of
resolution 1521 (2003) and on progress in the timber sector
since the lifting of paragraph 10 of resolution 1521 (2003)
in June 2006;

e. To cooperate with other relevant groups of experts, in
particular that established on Cote d'Ivoire by resolution
1708 (2006) of 14 September 2006, and with the Kimberley
Process Certification Scheme;

f. 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);


5. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary
measures, in this exceptional instance, to re-appoint the
current members of the Panel of Experts as referred to in his
letter to the President of the Security Council dated 27 June
2006 (S/2006/438)) 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 Kimberley Process to inform, as
appropriate, the Security Council through its Committee about
any possible follow-up visit to Liberia and its assessment of
progress made by the Liberian government toward joining the

Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;


8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

END TEXT.
WOLFF