UNSC LIBERIA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE ARMS EMBARGO

UNCLAS STATE 069804 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER UNSC XY SUBJECT: UNSC LIBERIA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE ARMS EMBARGO ADVANCE APPROVAL REQUEST REF: A. S/AC.41/2009/OC.19 ¶B. S/AC.41/2009/COMM.4/ADD.3 ¶C. S/AC.41/2009/COMM.6/ADD.1 ¶D. S/AC.41/2009/COMM.4 ¶E. STATE 4356 ¶1. This is an action request. USUN is requested to seek from the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia ("the Liberia Sanctions Committee") an advance approval for an exemption to the arms embargo on Liberia established by the Security Council in order to provide equipment to the Government of Liberia in support of security secort reform. Text of letter to the Liberia Sanctions Committee and list of weapons are contained in para ¶3. -------------- STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE -------------- ¶2. The strategic objective is for the United States to comply with its UN obligation to request an exemption from the Liberia Sanctions Committee in advance of the sale or supply to Liberia, by their nationals or from their territories or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories. Per operative paragraph 2 of UN Security Council resolution 1683 (2006),an exception is available with advance approval on a case-by-case basis by the Committee for arms that are intended 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. -------------- LETTER -------------- ¶3. The United States Government requests approval consistent with paragraph 2(e) of UN Security Council resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 2 of resolution 1683 (2006) in connection with its efforts to support security sector reform in Liberia by providing military equipment to the Government of Liberia. In particular, the United States seeks approval to provide the equipment in the list below to the Government of Liberia's Ministry of Defense. The equipment will be used during the training for which the United States received advance approval from the Committee on 1 April 2009 S/AC.41/2009/OC.19 that will enable the new Armed Forces of Liberia to defend the country from armed attack and to eventually participate in peacekeeping operations on the continent. All training participants have been thoroughly vetted and trained since the inception of the United Nations Mission in Liberia in October 2003. During the training program, all weapons and ammunition will be under the control of the U.S. trainers and will be kept in a locked and guarded weapons storage facility. At the completion of the training, the weapons and unused ammunition will be transferred to the Government of Liberia's Ministry of Defense. Prior to shipping the weapons and ammunition to Liberia, the United States will provide the Committee a catalog of the items including photos and serial or lot numbers. -------------- Weapons -------------- Item (quantity) - Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launchers, Model PG-7V or RPG-7V (29) -------------- Ammunition -------------- Item (quantity) - Mortar 60MM Short Range Training Rounds (300) - Mortar 81MM Short Range Training Rounds (200) END LETTER ¶4. Department appreciates Mission's efforts. CLINTON