Security Council Extends Mandate of Panel of Experts on Liberia Sanctions

(IDEX Online News) – The Security Council asked the Panel of Experts monitoring compliance with sanctions imposed on Liberia to "cooperate actively with the Kimberley Process," as it extended its mandate by another 12 months.

The United Nations Panel of Experts is monitoring compliance with sanctions imposed on Liberia in connection with the country’s civil war, noting a lack of progress in the implementation of financial measures stipulated in the sanctions regime.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed the Panel in July 2007 to renew investigations on whether the sanctions were being enforced in the light of allegations that former president Charles Taylor still had access to considerable wealth in the country.

The panel will conduct two follow-up assessment missions to Liberia and neighboring states to investigate and compile a mid-term and a final report on the implementation and any violations of the sanctions measures on arms.

It will also assess the impact, effectiveness and continued need for the sanctions measures related to Taylor’s assets.

The Council also authorized the panel – within the context of Liberia’s evolving legal framework – to assess the extent to which forests and other natural resources are contributing to peace, security and development instead of instability.

Finally, the UN body asked the panel to cooperate actively with KP and to assess the Liberian Government’s compliance with the certification scheme.

In related news, an informal consultation on the KP will be held Thursday afternoon at the UN. The closed meeting is convened by the delegation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The DRC is the outgoing Chair of the KP.