Security Council resolution 1854 (2008) [on extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Liberia]
Symbol: S/RES/1854(2008)
Date: 2008-12-19
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/63 [89] LIBERIA SITUATION
Subjects: Taylor, Charles Ghankay|UN. Security Council > Resolutions and decisions|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia|UN. Panel of Experts Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1854 (2008)|UN. Panel of Experts Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1854 (2008) > Terms of reference|Liberia. President|Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds (2002)|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|ARMS EMBARGO|FOREST PRODUCTS|CONFLICT DIAMONDS|LIBERIA|LIBERIA SITUATION|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE|GROUPS OF EXPERTS|SANCTIONS|TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS|FROZEN ASSETS|FACT-FINDING MISSIONS|NEIGHBOURING STATES|REPORT PREPARATION|CRIMINAL ASSETS|ILLICIT ARMS TRAFFICKING|FORESTRY LEGISLATION|TIMBER|FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: BURKINA FASO
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: COSTA RICA
vote: yes
country: CROATIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
vote: yes
country: PANAMA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/1854 (2008)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                19 December 2008




               Resolution 1854 (2008)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 6051st meeting, on
               19 December 2008

                    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, and welcoming the Government of Liberia’s
               participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, noting Liberia’s
               implementation of the necessary internal controls and other requirements of the
               Kimberley Process, and calling on the Government of Liberia to continue to work
               diligently to ensure the effectiveness of these controls,
                     Recalling the statement of its President on 25 June 2007 (S/PRST/2007/22)
               recognizing the role of voluntary initiatives aimed at improving revenue
               transparency such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and
               noting General Assembly resolution 62/274 on strengthening transparency in
               industries, supports Liberia’s decision to inter alia take part in EITI and other
               extractive industry transparency initiatives and encourages Liberia’s continued
               progress in implementing their EITI work plan to improve revenue transparency,
                     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, timber,
               and other natural resources-producing regions, and border areas,



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                     Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia
               dated 16 December 2008 (S/2008/785), 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
               concluding that insufficient progress has been made towards that end,
                     Underlining its determination to support the Government of Liberia in its
               efforts to meet those conditions, and encouraging donors to do likewise,
                    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),
                     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, on the basis of its assessment of progress made to date towards
               meeting the conditions for lifting the measures imposed by resolution 1521 (2003):
                    (a) To renew the measures on arms imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution
               1521 (2003) and modified by paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1683 (2006) and by
               paragraph 1 (b) of resolution 1731 (2006) and to renew the measures on travel
               imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) for a further period of 12 months
               from the date of adoption of this resolution;
                     (b) That Member States shall notify the Committee established by paragraph
               21 of resolution 1521 (2003) (“the Committee”) upon delivery of all arms and
               related materiel supplied in accordance with paragraph 2 (e) or 2 (f) of resolution
               1521 (2003), paragraph 2 of resolution 1683 (2006), or paragraph 1 (b) of resolution
               1731;
                     (c) 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;
                    2.    Recalls that the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532
               (2004) remain in force, notes with concern the findings of the Panel of Experts on
               the lack of progress in this regard, and calls on the Government of Liberia to
               continue to make all necessary efforts to fulfil its obligations;
                     3.   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 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, particularly with regard to listing and delisting procedures;




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                4.   Decides to extend the mandate of the current Panel of Experts appointed
           pursuant to paragraph 1 of resolution 1819 (2008) for a further period until
           20 December 2009 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 imposed by resolution
           1521 (2003) and renewed in paragraph 1 above, including any information relevant
           to the designation by the Committee of the individuals described in paragraph 4 (a)
           of resolution 1521 (2003) 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 of 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 assess the implementation of forestry legislation passed by the
           Liberian Congress on 19 September 2006 and signed into law by President Johnson
           Sirleaf on 5 October 2006;
                (d) To assess the Government of Liberia’s compliance with the Kimberley
           Process Certification Scheme, and to coordinate with the Kimberley Process in
           assessing compliance;
                 (e) To provide a midterm report to the Council through the Committee by
           1 June 2009 and a final report to the Council through the Committee by
           20 December 2009 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 timber 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;
                 (f) To cooperate actively with other relevant groups of experts, in particular
           that on Côte d’Ivoire re-established by paragraph 10 of resolution 1842 (2008), and
           with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;
                 (g) To identify and make recommendations regarding areas where the
           capacity of 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);
                 (h) To assist the Committee in updating the publicly available reasons for
           listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists;
                5.    Requests the Secretary-General to reappoint the current members of the
           Panel of Experts and to make the necessary financial and security arrangements to
           support the work of the Panel;
                 6.   Calls upon all States and the Government of Liberia to cooperate fully
           with the Panel of Experts in all the aspects of its mandate;
                7.    Encourages the Government of Liberia to continue to implement the
           recommendations of the 2008 Kimberley Process review team to strengthen internal
           controls over diamond mining and export;



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                     8.  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;
                    9.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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