Security Council resolution 1306 (2000) [on sanctions against import of diamonds from Sierra Leone]
[Sanctions against import of diamonds from Sierra Leone]
Symbol: S/RES/1306(2000)
Date: 2000-07-05
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/55 [171] SIERRA LEONE--POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Subjects: UN. Panel of Experts Established by Security Council Resolution 1306 (2000) > Establishment|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1132 (1997) concerning Sierra Leone|International Diamond Manufacturers Association|Economic Community of West African States|OAU|INTERPOL|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|SANCTIONS|ARMS EMBARGO|SIERRA LEONE|DIAMONDS|CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN|REPORTING PROCEDURES|GROUPS OF EXPERTS|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE|INFORMATION EXCHANGE|PERIODIC REPORTS|GUIDELINES|TRANSIT COUNTRIES|ILLICIT TRAFFIC|TECHNICAL COOPERATION|INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
Votes in favour: 14
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 1
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: BANGLADESH
vote: yes
country: CANADA
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: JAMAICA
vote: yes
country: MALAYSIA
vote: yes
country: MALI
vote: abstention
country: NAMIBIA
vote: yes
country: NETHERLANDS
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: TUNISIA
vote: yes
country: UKRAINE
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/1306 (2000)
               Security Council                                               Distr.: General
                                                                              5 July 2000




               Resolution 1306 (2000)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 4168th meeting, on
               5 July 2000

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President
               concerning the situation in Sierra Leone, and in particular its resolutions 1132
               (1997) of 8 October 1997, 1171 (1998) of 5 June 1998 and 1299 (2000) of 19 May
               2000,
                    Affirming the commitment of all States to respect the sovereignty, political
               independence and territorial integrity of Sierra Leone,
                    Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 19 May 2000
               (S/2000/455), and in particular its paragraph 94,
                     Determining that the situation in Sierra Leone continues to constitute a threat
               to international peace and security in the region,
                    Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

               A
                     Expressing its concern at the role played by the illicit trade in diamonds in
               fuelling the conflict in Sierra Leone, and at reports that such diamonds transit
               neighbouring countries, including the territory of Liberia,
                    Welcoming ongoing efforts by interested States, the International Diamond
               Manufacturers Association, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, the Diamond
               High Council, other representatives of the diamond industry and non-governmental
               experts to improve the transparency of the international diamond trade, and
               encouraging further action in this regard,
                     Emphasizing that the legitimate diamond trade is of great economic importance
               for many States, and can make a positive contribution to prosperity and stability and
               to the reconstruction of countries emerging from conflict, and emphasizing further
               that nothing in this resolution is intended to undermine the legitimate diamond trade
               or to diminish confidence in the integrity of the legitimate diamond industry,




00-51701 (E)
`````````

S/RES/1306 (2000)


                    Welcoming the decision taken by the member States of the Economic
               Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at their Abuja summit on 28-29 May
               2000 to undertake a regional inquiry into the illegal trade in diamonds,
                    Taking note of the letter of 29 June 2000 to its President from the Permanent
               Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and of its enclosure
               (S/2000/641),
                     1.    Decides that all States shall take the necessary measures to prohibit the
               direct or indirect import of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone to their territory;
                    2.    Requests the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure, as a matter of
               urgency, that an effective Certificate of Origin regime for trade in diamonds is in
               operation in Sierra Leone;
                     3.    Also requests States, relevant international organizations and other bodies
               in a position to do so to offer assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone to
               facilitate the full operation of an effective Certificate of Origin regime for Sierra
               Leone rough diamonds;
                    4.    Further requests the Government of Sierra Leone to notify the
               Committee established by resolution 1132 (1997) (“the Committee”) of the details of
               such a Certificate of Origin regime when it is fully in operation;
                    5.    Decides that rough diamonds controlled by the Government of Sierra
               Leone through the Certificate of Origin regime shall be exempt from the measures
               imposed in paragraph 1 above when the Committee has reported to the Council,
               taking into account expert advice obtained at the request of the Committee through
               the Secretary-General, that an effective regime is fully in operation;
                     6.   Decides that the measures referred to in paragraph 1 above are
               established for an initial period of 18 months, and affirms that, at the end of this
               period, it will review the situation in Sierra Leone, including the extent of the
               Government’s authority over the diamond-producing areas, in order to decide
               whether to extend these measures for a further period and, if necessary, to modify
               them or adopt further measures;
                     7.   Further decides that the Committee shall also undertake the following
               tasks:
                    (a) To seek from all States further information regarding the action taken by
               them with a view to implementing effectively the measures imposed by paragraph 1
               above;
                     (b) To consider information brought to its attention concerning violations of
               the measures imposed by paragraph 1 above, identifying where possible persons or
               entities, including vessels, reported to be engaged in such violations;
                    (c) To make periodic reports to the Security Council on information
               submitted to it regarding alleged violations of the measures imposed by paragraph 1
               above, identifying where possible persons or entities, including vessels, reported to
               be engaged in such violations;
                    (d) To promulgate such guidelines as may be necessary to facilitate the
               implementation of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 above;




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      (e) To continue its cooperation with other relevant sanctions committees in
particular that established pursuant to resolution 985 (1995) of 13 April 1995
concerning Liberia and that established pursuant to resolution 864 (1993) of 15
September 1993 concerning the situation in Angola;
     8.    Requests all States to report to the Committee established by resolution
1132 (1997), within 30 days of the adoption of this resolution, on the actions they
have taken to implement the measures imposed by paragraph 1 above;
     9.    Calls upon all States, in particular those through which rough diamonds
from Sierra Leone are known to transit, and all relevant international and regional
organizations to act strictly in accordance with the provisions of this resolution
notwithstanding the existence of any rights or obligations conferred or imposed by
any international agreement or any contract entered into or any licence or permit
granted prior to the date of adoption of this resolution;
      10. Encourages the International Diamond Manufacturers Association, the
World Federation of Diamond Bourses, the Diamond High Council and all other
representatives of the diamond industry to work with the Government of Sierra
Leone and the Committee to develop methods and working practices to facilitate the
effective implementation of this resolution;
      11. Invites States, international organizations, members of the diamond
industry and other relevant entities in a position to do so to offer assistance to the
Government of Sierra Leone to contribute to the further development of a wellstructured and well-regulated diamond industry that provides for the identification
of the provenance of rough diamonds;
      12. Requests the Committee to hold an exploratory hearing in New York no
later than 31 July 2000 to assess the role of diamonds in the Sierra Leone conflict
and the link between trade in Sierra Leone diamonds and trade in arms and related
materiél in violation of resolution 1171 (1998), involving representatives of
interested States and regional organizations, the diamond industry and other relevant
experts, requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources, and
further requests the Committee to report on the hearing to the Council;
     13. Welcomes the commitments made by certain members of the diamond
industry not to trade in diamonds originating from conflict zones, including in Sierra
Leone, urges all other companies and individuals involved in trading in rough
diamonds to make similar declarations in respect of Sierra Leone diamonds, and
underlines the importance of relevant financial institutions encouraging such
companies to do so;
     14. Stresses the need for the extension of government authority to the
diamond-producing areas for a durable solution to the problem of illegal
exploitation of diamonds in Sierra Leone;
     15. Decides to conduct a first review on the measures imposed by
paragraph 1 above no later than 15 September 2000, and further such reviews every
six months after the date of adoption of the resolution, and to consider at those times
what further measures may be necessary;
      16. Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and, as appropriate,
other organizations and interested parties to report to the Committee information on
possible violations of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 above;


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               B
                    Stressing the need to ensure effective implementation of the measures
               concerning arms and related materiel imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution 1171
               (1998),
                     Stressing the obligation of all Member States, including those neighbouring
               Sierra Leone, to comply fully with the measures imposed by the Council,
                    Recalling the ECOWAS Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and
               Manufacture of Light Weapons in West Africa adopted in Abuja on 31 October 1998
               (S/1998/1194, annex),
                     17. Reminds States of their obligation to implement fully the measures
               imposed by resolution 1171 (1998), and calls upon them, where they have not
               already done so, to enforce, strengthen or enact, as appropriate, legislation making it
               a criminal offence under domestic law for their nationals or other persons operating
               on their territory to act in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 2 of that
               resolution, and to report to the Committee not later than 31 July 2000 on the
               implementation of those measures;
                     18. Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and, as appropriate,
               other organizations and interested parties to report to the Committee information on
               possible violations of the measures imposed by the Council;
                     19. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Committee, to
               establish a panel of experts, for an initial period of four months, consisting of no
               more than five members:
                     (a) To collect information on possible violations of the measures imposed by
               paragraph 2 of resolution 1171 (1998) and the link between trade in diamonds and
               trade in arms and related materiel including through visits to Sierra Leone and other
               States as appropriate, and making contact with those they consider appropriate,
               including diplomatic missions;
                    (b) To consider the adequacy, for the purpose of detecting flights of aircraft
               suspected of carrying arms and related materiel across national borders in violation
               of the measures imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution 1171 (1998), of air traffic
               control systems in the region;
                    (c)   To participate, if possible, in the hearing referred to in paragraph 12
               above;
                     (d) To report to the Council through the Committee with observations and
               recommendations on strengthening the implementation of the measures imposed by
               paragraph 2 of resolution 1171 (1998), and of those imposed by paragraph 1 above,
               no later than 31 October 2000;
               and further requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources;
                     20. Expresses its readiness, on the basis, inter alia, of the report produced
               pursuant to paragraph 19 (d) above, to consider appropriate action in relation to
               States that it determines to have violated the measures imposed by paragraph 2 of
               resolution 1171 (1998) and paragraph 1 above;




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     21. Urges all States to cooperate with the panel in the discharge of its
mandate, and underlines, in this regard, the importance of the cooperation and
technical expertise of the Secretariat and other parts of the United Nations system;
      22. Requests the Committee to strengthen existing contacts with regional
organizations, in particular ECOWAS and the Organization of African Unity, and
relevant international organizations, including INTERPOL, with a view to
identifying ways to improve effective implementation of the measures imposed by
paragraph 2 of resolution 1171 (1998);
     23. Requests the Committee to make information it considers relevant
publicly available through appropriate media, including through the improved use of
information technology;
      24. Requests the Secretary-General to publicize the provisions of this
resolution and the obligations imposed by it;
     25.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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