UN/LIBERIA SANCTIONS: SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001192 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC UNSC PREL PGOV LI SUBJECT: UN/LIBERIA SANCTIONS: SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION 1792 RENEWING SANCTIONS IN LIBERIA REF: STATE 168418 ¶1. On December 19 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1792 (2007) renewing the arms embargo and travel ban in Liberia until December 20, 2008 and the mandate of the Liberia Panel of Experts until June 20, 2008. Please see paragraph 2 for the text of the resolution. ¶2. Text of resolution 1792 (2007): The Security Council, PP1 Recalling its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the situation in Liberia and West Africa, PP2 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, PP3 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; PP4 Recalling its decision to terminate the measures in paragraph 6 of resolution 1521 (2003) regarding diamonds; PP5 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 Kimberly process, and calling on the Government of Liberia to continue to work diligently to ensure the effectiveness of these controls; PP6 Stressing the continuing importance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in improving security through Liberia and helping the Government establish its authority through the country, particularly in the diamond and timber-producing regions, and border areas, PP7 Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia dated 5 December 2007, including on the issues of diamond, timber, targeted sanctions, and arms and security, PP8 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 the insufficient progress has been made towards that end, PP9 Underlining its determination to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts to meet those conditions, and encouraging donors to do likewise, PP10 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), PP11 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, OP1 Decides, on the basis of its assessment of progress made to date towards meeting 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 measure on travel imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) for a further period of USUN NEW Y 00001192 002 OF 003 12 months form 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; OP2 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 fulfill its obligations; OP3 Reconfirms its intention to review the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) at least once a year. OP4 Welcomes UNMIL's assistance to the Government of Liberia in conducting joint patrols with Forestry Development Authority with a view to strengthening Government control in forestry areas; OP5 Decides to extend the mandate of the current Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to paragraph 1 of resolution 1760 (2007) for period until June 20, 2008 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 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 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 report to the Council through the committee by 1 June 2008 on all the issues listed in this paragraph, and to provide informal updates to the committee as appropriate before that date, 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 Cote d'Ivoire re-established by paragraph 8 of resolution 1782 (2007),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); OP6 Requests the Secretary-General to re-appoint the current members of the Panel of Experts and to make the necessary financial and security arrangements to support the work to the Panel; OP7 Calls upon all States and the Government of Liberia to USUN NEW Y 00001192 003 OF 003 cooperate fully with the Panel of Experts in all the aspects of its mandate; OP8 Encourages the Government of Liberia to invite the Kimberly Process to conduct a review visit within a year of Liberia's full participation in and implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; OP9 Encourages the Kimberley Process to inform, as appropriate, the Security Council through its Committee about any possible review visit to Liberia and its assessment of progress made by the Liberian Government in implementing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; OP10 Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. End of Text Khalilzad