Security Council resolution 1961 (2010) [on renewal of measures on arms and travel imposed by resolution 1521 (2003) and on extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Liberia]
Symbol: S/RES/1961(2010)
Date: 2010-12-17
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/65 [89] LIBERIA SITUATION
S/65 [90] UN MISSION IN LIBERIA
Subjects: Taylor, Charles Ghankay|UN Mission in Liberia|UN. Security Council (58th year : 2003) > Resolutions and decisions|UN. Security Council (59th year : 2004) > Resolutions and decisions|UN. Security Council (61st year : 2006) > Resolutions and decisions|UN. Security Council (64th year : 2009) > Resolutions and decisions|UN. Panel of Experts Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1521 (2003)|UN. Panel of Experts Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1961 (2010)|Kimberley Process|Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds (2002)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|SANCTIONS|ARMS EMBARGO|CONFLICT DIAMONDS|LIBERIA|LAWS AND REGULATIONS|NATURAL RESOURCES
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: AUSTRIA
vote: yes
country: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: LEBANON
vote: yes
country: MEXICO
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: TURKEY
vote: yes
country: UGANDA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/1961 (2010)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                17 December 2010




               Resolution 1961 (2010)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 6454th meeting,
               on 17 December 2010

                    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, and other new legislation related to revenue transparency
               (the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Act) and resolution of land
               and tenure rights (Community Rights Law with respect to Forest Lands and Lands
               Commission Act),
                     Recalling its decision to terminate the measures in paragraph 6 of resolution
               1521 (2003) regarding diamonds, and welcoming the Government of Liberia’s
               participation and leadership at the regional and international levels in the Kimberley
               Process, and encouraging the Government of Liberia to redouble its commitment
               and efforts to ensure the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process Certification
               Scheme,
                     Stressing the continuing importance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia
               (UNMIL) in improving security throughout Liberia and helping the Government
               establish its authority throughout the country, particularly in the diamond, timber,
               and other natural resources-producing regions, and border areas,
                     Taking note of the final report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on
               Liberia pursuant to paragraph 9 (f) of resolution 1903 (2009), including on the
               issues of diamonds, timber, targeted sanctions, and arms and security,
                    Having reviewed the measures imposed by paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution
               1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) and the progress towards
               meeting the conditions set out by paragraph 5 of resolution 1521 (2003), and noting


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               the Government of Liberia’s cooperation with UNMIL in weapons marking, and
               concluding that insufficient progress has been made towards that end,
                     Underlining its determination to support the Government of Liberia in its
               efforts to meet the conditions of resolution 1521 (2003), welcoming the engagement
               of the Peacebuilding Commission, and encouraging all stakeholders, including
               donors, to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts,
                    Acknowledging the implementation of the guidelines of the Department of
               Peacekeeping Operations on cooperation and information sharing between the
               United Nations peacekeeping missions and the Security Council’s Sanctions
               Committees’ expert panels,
                     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.    Decides to renew the measures on travel imposed by paragraph 4 of
               resolution 1521 (2003) for a period of 12 months from the date of adoption of this
               resolution;
                     2.   Recalls that the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532
               (2004) remain in force, notes with serious concern the lack of progress with regards
               to the implementation of the financial measures imposed by paragraph 1 of
               resolution 1532 (2004), and demands that the Government of Liberia make all
               necessary efforts to fulfil its obligations;
                     3.   Decides to renew for a period of 12 months from the date of adoption of
               this resolution the measures on arms, previously imposed by paragraph 2 of
               resolution 1521 (2003) and modified by paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1683
               (2006), by paragraph 1 (b) of resolution 1731 (2006), and by paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and
               6 of resolution 1903 (2009);
                     4.    Reconfirms its intention to review the measures imposed by paragraph 1
               of resolution 1532 (2004) at least once a year, and directs the Committee, in
               coordination with the Government of Liberia and relevant designating States and
               with the assistance of the Panel of Experts, to update as necessary the publicly
               available reasons for listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists as
               well as the Committee’s guidelines;
                    5.    Decides to review any of the above measures at the request of the
               Government of Liberia, once the Government reports to the Council that the
               conditions set out in resolution 1521 (2003) for terminating the measures have been
               met, and provides the Council with information to justify its assessment;
                    6.   Decides to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts appointed
               pursuant to paragraph 9 of resolution 1903 (2009) for a further period until
               16 December 2011 to undertake the following tasks:
                     (a) To conduct two follow-up assessment missions to Liberia and
               neighbouring States, in order to investigate and compile a midterm and a final report
               on the implementation, and any violations, of the measures on arms as amended by
               resolution 1903 (2009), including any information relevant to the designation by the
               Committee of the individuals described in paragraph 4 (a) of resolution 1521 (2003)


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           and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), and including the various sources of
           financing, such as from natural resources, for the illicit trade of arms;
                 (b) To assess the impact and effectiveness of the measures imposed by
           paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004), including particularly with respect to the
           assets of former President Charles Taylor;
                (c) To identify and make recommendations regarding areas where the
           capacity of Liberia and the States in the region can be strengthened to facilitate the
           implementation of the measures imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003)
           and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004);
                 (d) Within the context of Liberia’s evolving legal framework, assess the
           extent to which forests and other natural resources are contributing to peace,
           security and development rather than to instability and to what extent relevant
           legislation (National Forestry Reform Law, Lands Commission Act, Community
           Rights Law with respect to Forest Land, and Liberia Extractive Industries
           Transparency Initiative Act) and other reform efforts are contributing to this
           transition, and to provide recommendations, if appropriate, on how such natural
           resources could better contribute to the country’s progress towards sustainable peace
           and stability;
                (e) To assess the Government of Liberia’s compliance with the Kimberley
           Process Certification Scheme, and to coordinate with the Kimberley Process in
           assessing compliance;
                 (f) To provide a midterm report to the Council through the Committee by
           1 June 2011 and a final report to the Council through the Committee by 1 December
           2011 on all the issues listed in this paragraph, and to provide informal updates to the
           Committee as appropriate before those dates, especially on progress in the forest
           sector since the lifting of paragraph 10 of resolution 1521 (2003) in June 2006, and
           in the diamond sector since the lifting of paragraph 6 of resolution 1521 (2003) in
           April 2007;
                 (g) To cooperate actively with other relevant panels of experts, in particular
           that on Côte d’Ivoire re-established by paragraph 9 of resolution 1946 (2010) and
           that on the Democratic Republic of the Congo re-established by paragraph 5 of
           resolution 1952 (2010) with respect to natural resources;
                (h)   To cooperate actively with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;
                 (i) To assist the Committee in updating the publicly available reasons for
           listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists;
                7.   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;
                 8.   Calls upon all States and the Government of Liberia to cooperate fully
           with the Panel of Experts in all the aspects of its mandate;
                9.    Recalls that responsibility for controlling the circulation of small arms
           within the territory of Liberia and between Liberia and neighbouring States rests
           with the relevant governmental authorities in accordance with the Economic
           Community Of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons
           of 2006;


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                    10. 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, continue
               to carry out its tasks set forth in previous resolutions, including resolution 1683
               (2006);
                    11. Urges the Government of Liberia to implement the recommendations of
               the 2009 Kimberley Process review team to strengthen internal controls over
               diamond mining and exports;
                     12. Encourages the Kimberley Process to continue to cooperate with the
               Panel of Experts and to report on developments regarding Liberia’s implementation
               of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;
                    13.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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