LIBERIA SANCTIONS: SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000537 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETTC UNSC PGOV LI SUBJECT: LIBERIA SANCTIONS: SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF THE PANEL OF EXPERTS REF: STATE 65303 ¶1. On June 18, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted U.S.-drafted UNSC resolution 1819 (see text in para 2),which extends the mandate of the Liberia Panel of Experts for six months. ¶2. BEGIN 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, 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, Recalling its decision to terminate the measures in paragraph 6 of resolution 1521 (2003) regarding diamonds, Welcoming the Government of Liberia's participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, noting Liberia's implementation of the necessary internal controls and other recommendations of the Kimberley Process, and calling on the Government of Liberia to continue to work diligently to ensure the effectiveness of these controls, Stressing the continuing importance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in improving security through Liberia and helping the Government establish its authority throughout the country, particularly in the diamond and timber-producing regions, and border areas, 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), Welcoming the recent report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia, including on the issues of diamonds, timber, targeted sanctions, and arms and security, 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. Requests that Secretary-General renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to paragraph 1 of resolution 1760 (2007) for a further period until 20 December 2008, and requests that the Panel of Experts report to the Council through the Committee established by paragraph 21 of resolution 1521 (2003) ("the Committee") by 1 December 2008 on all issues listed in paragraph 5 of resolution 1792 (2007),and to provide informal updates to the Committee as appropriate before that date; ¶2. 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; ¶3. Calls upon all States and the Government of Liberia to cooperate fully with the Panel of Experts in all the aspects of its mandate; ¶4. Encourages the Government of Liberia to implement the recommendations of the most recent Kimberley Process review and work closely with Kimberley Process to continue to strengthen Liberian controls on rough diamond trade; ¶5. Encourages the Kimberley Process to inform, as appropriate, the Security Council through it Committee about USUN NEW Y 00000537 002 OF 002 its assessment of progress made by the Liberian Government in implementing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; ¶6. Reiterates 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, including in monitoring the implementation of the measures in paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 1521 (2003),and in this regard recalls its request that UNMIL inspect inventories of weapons and ammunition obtained in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1683 (2006) to ensure all such weapons and ammunition are accounted for, and to make periodic reports to the Committee on its findings; ¶7. Reiterates its request to the United Nations Mission in Cote d'Ivoire, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, and without prejudice to its mandate, to assist the Committee and the Panel of Experts by passing to the Committee and the Panel any information relevant to the implementation of the measures in paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) in the context of enhanced coordination among United Nations missions and offices in West Africa; ¶8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. END RESOLUTION Khalilzad