UNSC LIBERIA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE: ARMS EMBARGO

UNCLAS STATE 089310 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER UNSC XY SUBJECT: UNSC LIBERIA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE: ARMS EMBARGO EXEMPTION REQUEST REF: STATE 85114 ¶1. This is an action request. USUN is requested to send a letter to the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia ("the Liberia Sanctions Committee" - www.un.org/sc/committees/1521/index.shtml) with the information found in para 3 below in connection with United States' request for an exemption to the arms embargo on Liberia established by the Security Council in resolution 1521 (2003). -------------- STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE -------------- ¶2. The strategic objective is for the United States to comply with its international obligation to implement the UN arms embargo on Liberia as described in paragraph 2 of UN Security Council resolution 1521 (2003). In that resolution, the UN Security Council decided that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent 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. Additionally, the UN Security Council decided that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent any provision to Liberia by their nationals or from their territories of technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items listed above. To allow for security sector reform, the UN Security Council decided that the arms embargo shall not apply to supplies of arms and related materiel and technical training and assistance intended solely for support of or use in an international training and reform program for the Liberian armed forces and police, as approved in advance by the Liberia Sanctions Committee. -------------- LETTER -------------- ¶3. The United States Government (USG) 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 the training to members of the Armed Forces of Liberia. All participants have been thoroughly vetted by the USG. No weapons or military equipment will be provided in the USG-sponsored training. Details on each training course are as follows: - Transportation Basic Officer Course for two Lieutenants from 3 September to 25 November 2009. The course will train officers in the following competencies: Deploy the Force; Distribution Synchronization; Joint/Combined Transportation Network; Sea and Air Cargo Transportation; and Material and Personnel Movements. The trainees will participate in practical field exercises with trainers and fellow students. - Warrior Leader Course for three Sergeants from 3 September to 24 September 2009. The course incorporates the nine battle drills, 39 warrior tasks with the inclusion of weapons immersion, and a 96-hour situational training exercise that centers on competency, battle focused combat scenarios, and troop-leading procedures. This will enhance soldiers, troop-leading procedures in current threat-based scenarios. - Finance Management Basic Officer Course for one Lieutenant from 3 September to 6 November 2009. The course includes branch specific training, tactical training, and functional training to prepare finance officers to support combat operations on the modern battlefield. - Adjutant General Course for two Lieutenants from 21 September to 2 December 2009. This course includes tactical training and will focus on combat survival, career management, and Adjutant General specialty training. - Military Intelligence Basic Officer Course for one civilian official from 23 September to 11 December 2009. This course prepares the officer for the responsibilities and duties of a Tactical All-Source Intelligence Officer, possessing knowledge of intelligence electronic warfare systems and their organizations. Among the subjects that are explored in depth include: enemy threat, unit training management, electronic warfare, human intelligence, signal intelligence, imagery intelligence, operations security support, counterintelligence, and tactical all-source intelligence production. END LETTER. ¶4. Department appreciates Mission's efforts. CLINTON