COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION 1779

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000149 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: DRC PREL UNSC PGOV ETTC SUBJECT: COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION 1779 RENEWING SANCTIONS IN DRC REF: STATE 15127 ¶1. (SBU) The Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1779 renewing the sanctions regime in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until March 31. This resolution was a technical extension of the sanctions regime designed to allow time for the French to amend the regime as a whole to improve its efficiency and clarify that the sanctions are aimed at militias in eastern Congo, rather than the DRC government. 2.(U) Begin resolution text: The Security Council, Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 1771 (2007) and 1794 (2007),and the statements by its President concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Condemning the continuing illicit flow of weapons within and into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, declaring its determination to continue to monitor closely the implementation of the arms embargo and other measures set out by its resolutions, Reiterating its serious concern regarding the presence of armed groups and militias in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in the provinces of North and South Kivu and the Ituri district, which perpetuate a climate of insecurity in the whole region, Recalling its intention to review the measures set forth in resolution 1771, with a view to adjusting them, as appropriate, in the light of consolidation of the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular progress in security sector reform including the integration of the armed forces and the reform of the national police, and in disarming, demobilizing, repatriating, resettling and reintegrating, as appropriate, Congolese and foreign armed groups, Determining that the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 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 to extend until 31 March 2008 the measures on arms imposed by paragraph 20 of resolution 1493 (2003) as amended and expanded by paragraph 1 of resolution 1596 (2005); ¶2. Decides to extend, for the period specified in paragraph 1 above, the measures on transport imposed by paragraphs 6, 7 and 10 of resolution 1596; ¶3. Decides to extend, for the period specified in paragraph 1 above, the financial and travel measures imposed by paragraphs 13 and 15 of resolution 1596, paragraph 2 of resolution 1649 (2005),and paragraph 13 of resolution 1698 (2006); ¶4. Decides to extend, for the period specified in paragraph 1 above, the mandate for the Group of Experts referred to in paragraph 9 of resolution 1771; ¶5. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. End text. WOLFF