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.

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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
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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.

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LETTER
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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.

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Weapons
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Item (quantity)
- Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launchers, Model PG-7V or
RPG-7V (29)

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Ammunition
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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