Military

17 June 2004 – The United Nations Security Council today re-established an expert monitoring panel to investigate the implementation and violations of sanctions imposed last year against Liberia.

In unanimously adopting resolution 1549, the Council mandated the Panel of Experts to probe ongoing violations of the arms embargo, travel ban of individuals posing a threat to the stability and security in Liberia and the sub-region, as well as the embargo against the export of rough diamonds and round logs and timber products stemming from Liberia.

The Council took note of a request of the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) to lift sanctions on that country's timber and diamonds.

Other aspects of the Panel's mandate include assessing progress in maintaining and respecting the ceasefire and establishing and maintaining stability in Liberia and the sub-region, conditions that must be met in order for the Council to terminate the measures imposed against the country.

The Panel should also assess progress made by the NTGL in establishing an effective certificate of origin regime for trade in Liberian rough diamonds as well as establishing full authority over the timber-producing areas.

The Panel's most recent report found no proof of weapons-smuggling into Liberia after August 2003, or of diamond- and timber-smuggling out of the West African nation, and the imposed sanctions contributed significantly to ending the country's armed conflicts.