Security Council resolution 1689 (2006) [on application of measures on timber and diamonds imposed on Liberia by resolution 1521 (2003)]
Symbol: S/RES/1689(2006)
Date: 2006-06-20
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/61 [89] LIBERIA SITUATION
Subjects: Liberia. Forest Reform Monitoring Committee|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia|UN. Panel of Experts Established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1647 (2005)|Kimberley Process|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|SANCTIONS|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE|FORESTRY LEGISLATION|CONFLICT DIAMONDS|LIBERIA|LIBERIA SITUATION|IMPORTS|TIMBER|FOREST PRODUCTS|LOGGING|AGRARIAN REFORM|CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN|REPORT PREPARATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CONGO
vote: yes
country: DENMARK
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: GREECE
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: QATAR
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SLOVAKIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/1689 (2006)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General

                                                                               20 June 2006




               Resolution 1689 (2006)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5468th meeting, on
               20 June 2006

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions and statements by its President on the
               situation in Liberia and West Africa,
                     Welcoming the rapid progress made by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf since
               January 2006, in rebuilding Liberia for the benefit of all Liberians, with the support
               of the international community,
                    Applauding the actions of President Sirleaf, Nigerian President Olusegun
               Obasanjo, and others in the international community for their roles in transferring
               Charles Taylor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone,
                      Welcoming the Government of Liberia’s progress in implementing the
               Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program, designed to ensure
               prompt implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to expedite the
               lifting of the measures imposed by resolution 1521 (2003),
                     Applauding the Government of Liberia’s commitment to transparent
               management of the country’s forestry resources for the benefit of Liberians and its
               reforms in the timber sector, including promulgating Executive Order No. 1, which
               declared all purported forest concessions null and void; creating a Forest Reform
               Monitoring Committee (FRMC); placing an internationally-recruited financial
               controller in the Forestry Development Authority, making progress towards
               implementing a management contract to ensure transparency in timber operations;
               establishing a mechanism for civil society to monitor the forestry sector; and
               drafting new forestry laws and regulations,
                    Stressing that Liberia’s progress in the timber sector is held back by the
               absence of appropriate forestry legislation, and urging speedy adoption of the
               necessary laws,
                     Taking note of President Sirleaf’s June 10 announcement of a moratorium on
               timber exports and new timber concessions pending the passage by the Liberian
               legislature of forestry legislation that respects Executive Order No. 1 of 2 February
               2006, and that is consistent with the recommendations of the FRMC,
                   Welcoming the Government of Liberia’s continuing cooperation with the
               Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and noting Liberia’s progress towards
               compliance with the Kimberley Process,


06-39596 (E)
*0639596*

S/RES/1689 (2006)


                   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 regions, and border areas,
                    Taking note of the report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia
               dated 7 June 2006 (S/2006/379),
                    Having reviewed the measures imposed and conditions set out by paragraphs 6
               through 9 of resolution 1521 (2003) and concluding that insufficient progress has
               been made towards meeting those conditions,
                    Having reviewed the measures imposed and conditions set out by paragraphs
               10 and 11 of resolution 1521 (2003), and concluding that sufficient progress has
               been made towards meeting those conditions,
                    Underlining its determination to support the Government of Liberia, 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 not to renew the measure in paragraph 10 of resolution 1521
               (2003) that obligates Member States to prevent the import into their territories of all
               round log and timber products originating in Liberia;
                     2.    Decides to review the decision in paragraph one (1) after a period of
               ninety (90) days and expresses its determination to reinstate the measures in
               paragraph 10 of resolution 1521 (2003) unless the Council is informed by that time
               that the forestry legislation proposed by the FRMC has been passed;
                  3.      Urges the speedy adoption of the forestry legislation proposed by the
               FRMC;
                     4.   Further decides that the measures imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution
               1521 (2003) shall be renewed for an additional six (6) months with a review by the
               Council after four (4) months, to allow the Government of Liberia sufficient time to
               establish an effective Certificate of Origin regime for trade in Liberian rough
               diamonds that is transparent and internationally verifiable, with a view to joining
               the Kimberley Process, and calls upon the Government of Liberia to provide the
               Sanctions Committee, established according to paragraph 21 of resolution 1521
               (2003) with a detailed description of the proposed regime;
                    5.    Requests that the Secretary-General renew for an additional six (6)
               months the mandate of the Panel of Experts re-established according to paragraph 9
               of resolution 1647 (2005), and requests that the Panel of Experts report to the
               Council through the Committee no later than 15 December 2006 its observations
               and recommendations;
                    6.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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