Security Council resolution 1647 (2005) [on renewal of the measures on arms, travel, diamonds and timber imposed on Liberia by resolution 1521 (2003)]
Symbol: S/RES/1647(2005)
Date: 2005-12-20
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/60 [89] LIBERIA SITUATION
Subjects: Liberia. National Transitional Government|Liberia. President|UN Mission in Liberia|UN. Panel of Experts Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1647 (2005)|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia|UN. Group of Experts Established pursuant to Paragraph 7 of Security Council Resolution 1584 (2005)|Kimberley Process|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|SANCTIONS|ARMS EMBARGO|TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS|CONFLICT DIAMONDS|LOGGING|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE|LIBERIA|LIBERIA SITUATION|FOREST PRODUCTS|TIMBER|ADVISORY SERVICES|DIAMOND MINES|DONOR COUNTRIES|PEACE TREATIES|FROZEN ASSETS|CRIMINAL ASSETS|FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE|GROUPS OF EXPERTS|FACT-FINDING MISSIONS|REPORT PREPARATION|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE|SOCIAL CONDITIONS|ECONOMIC CONDITIONS|INFORMATION EXCHANGE|CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN|CONSULTATIONS|APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS|FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ALGERIA
vote: yes
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: BENIN
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DENMARK
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GREECE
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: PHILIPPINES
vote: yes
country: ROMANIA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                      S/RES/1647 (2005)
               Security Council                                                   Distr.: General
                                                                                  20 December 2005




               Resolution 1647 (2005)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5336th meeting,
               on 20 December 2005

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the
               situation in Liberia and West Africa,
                    Welcoming the peaceful and orderly conduct of the recent elections in Liberia,
               an important step in Liberia’s progress towards lasting peace and stability,
                     Welcoming the commitment of President-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to rebuilding
               Liberia for the benefit of all Liberians, with the support of the international community,
                   Stressing the continuing importance of the United Nations Mission in Liberia
               (UNMIL) in improving security throughout Liberia and helping the new
               Government establish its authority throughout the country, particularly in the
               diamond- and timber-producing areas, and border areas,
                    Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia
               dated 25 November 2005 (S/2005/745),
                     Having reviewed the measures imposed by paragraphs 2, 4, 6 and 10 of
               resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) and the progress
               towards meeting the conditions set out in paragraphs 5, 7 and 11 of resolution 1521
               (2003), and concluding that insufficient progress has been made towards that end,
                     Underlining its determination to support the new Government of Liberia in its
               efforts to meet those conditions, and encouraging donors to do likewise,
                     Determining that the situation in Liberia 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 and travel imposed by paragraphs 2 and
               4 of resolution 1521 (2003) for a further period of 12 months from the date of
               adoption of this resolution;



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                    (b) To renew the measures on diamonds and timber imposed by paragraphs 6
               and 10 of resolution 1521 (2003) for a further period of six months from the date of
               adoption of this resolution;
                    (c) To review any of the above measures at the request of the new
               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.    Reiterates the Council’s readiness to terminate these measures once the
               conditions set forth in paragraphs 5, 7 and 11 of resolution 1521 (2003) have been
               met;
                     3.   Welcomes the determination of the President-elect of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, to meet the conditions for terminating the measures thus renewed, and
               encourages the new Government of Liberia:
                    (a) To reform the Forestry Development Authority, to implement the Liberia
               Forest Initiative and to implement the Forest Concession Review Committee’s
               recommendations for reform and cancellation of existing logging concessions,
               which will ensure transparency, accountability and sustainable forest management
               and contribute towards the lifting of the measures on timber in accordance with
               paragraphs 11 and 12 of resolution 1521 (2003);
                    (b) To consider, with the assistance of international partners and for a
               specific time period, the possibility of commissioning independent external advice
               on the management of Liberia’s diamond resources, in order to increase revenue and
               investor confidence and to attract additional donor support;
                      4.    Encourages the new Government of Liberia to implement the
               Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program, designed to ensure
               prompt implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and expedite the
               lifting of the measures imposed by resolution 1521 (2003);
                    5.   Welcomes the assistance provided by UNMIL to the Government of
               Liberia in re-establishing its authority throughout the country, and encourages
               UNMIL to continue its joint patrols with the Forestry Development Authority;
                    6.    Notes that the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of resolution 1532
               (2004) remain in force and reconfirms its intention to review these measures at least
               once a year;
                    7.    Emphasizes its concern that the National Transitional Government of
               Liberia took no action to implement its obligations under paragraph 1 of resolution
               1532 (2004), and calls on the incoming Government to take such action
               immediately, particularly through adopting the necessary domestic legislation, with
               technical support provided by Member States;
                    8.    Calls on the international donor community to support the incoming
               Government of Liberia by providing generous assistance to the peace process,
               including for reintegration of ex-combatants, reconstruction and humanitarian
               appeals, and by responding to the financial, administrative and technical needs of
               the Government of Liberia, in particular to assist the Government to meet the
               conditions referred to in paragraph 2 above, so that the measures can be lifted as
               soon as possible;



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                 9.   Decides to re-establish the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to
           resolution 1607 (2005) for a further period until 21 June 2006 to undertake the
           following tasks:
                 (a) To conduct a follow-up assessment mission to Liberia and neighbouring
           States, in order to investigate and compile a report on the implementation, and any
           violations, of the measures imposed by resolution 1521 (2003), including any
           information relevant to the designation by the Committee of the individuals
           described in paragraph 4 (a) of resolution 1521 (2003) and the individuals and
           entities described in 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);
                (c) To assess the progress made towards meeting the conditions for lifting
           the measures imposed by resolution 1521 (2003);
               (d) To assess the humanitarian and socio-economic impact of the measures
           imposed by paragraphs 2, 4, 6 and 10 of resolution 1521 (2003);
                  (e) To report to the Council through the Committee by 7 June 2006 on all the
           issues listed in this paragraph, and to provide informal updates to the Committee as
           appropriate before that date, especially on progress towards meeting the conditions
           for lifting the measures imposed by paragraphs 6 and 10 of resolution 1521 (2003);
                 (f) To cooperate with other relevant groups of experts, in particular that
           established on Côte d’Ivoire by resolution 1643 (2005) of 15 December 2005, and
           with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;
                10. Requests the Secretary-General, acting in consultation with the
           Committee, to appoint as soon as possible no more than five experts, with the
           appropriate expertise, in particular on arms, timber, diamonds, finance,
           humanitarian and socio-economic issues, drawing as much as possible on the
           expertise of the members of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution
           1607 (2005), and further requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary
           financial and security arrangements to support the work of the Panel;
                 11. Calls upon all States and the Government of Liberia to cooperate fully
           with the Panel of Experts;
                12.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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