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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000972 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2011 
TAGS: UNSC SO ETTC PREL PGOV XW
SUBJECT: UN/SANCTIONS: UNSCR 1676 RENEWS SOMALIA MONITORING 
GROUP'S MANDATE FOR SIX MONTHS 
 
Classified By: Counselor Brian H. Hook, For Reasons 1.4 (B and D) 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On 10 May 2006 the UN Security Council 
unanimously adopted UNSC Resolution 1676, renewing the 
mandate of the Somalia Monitoring Group (MG) for an 
additional six months.  In closed consultations immediately 
beforehand, Qatar PermRep Ambassador Nasser, Chairman of the 
Somalia Sanctions Committee established pursuant to UNSCR 751 
(1992), briefed Council members on recent Committee 
discussions. 
 
¶2. (C) During consultations Council members condemned arms 
embargo violations committed by the countries named in the 
final report.  Delegations unanimously stressed that Member 
States - particularly those in the region - must fulfill 
their obligations to enforce the embargo and hold violators 
accountable. 
 
¶3. (C) Although member remarks were similar to past meetings 
convened to renew the MG mandate, delegations showed an 
increased interest in targeted sanctions, and, to a lesser 
degree, an integrated arms embargo.  Some delegations also 
expressed support for a partial exemption of the existing 
arms embargo to strengthen the TFG.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
Council Reacts to Monitoring Group Proposals on Targeted 
Sanctions and an Integrated Arms Embargo Proposal 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶4. (C) The MG final report again recommended that the 
Security Council implement an "integrated arms embargo," 
which would add two elements to the existing arms embargo 
regime: (1) "a trade embargo on exports of charcoal 
originating in Somalia," and (2) "a ban on foreign vessels 
fishing in Somali waters and a trade embargo on the export of 
fish caught in Somali waters."  The MG believes that such 
action would enhance the arms embargo by denying sources of 
revenue used by various factions to buy weapons.  The MG also 
recommended that the Security Council consider targeted 
sanctions in the form of a travel ban and assets freeze 
against individuals identified in the annex to the final 
report. 
 
¶5. (C) In reaction to the report, delegations predictably 
deplored the worsening situation in Somalia, condemned 
violations of the arms embargo, and called on violators to be 
held accountable.  But unlike prior discussions that preceded 
renewal of the MG mandate, delegations are now asking whether 
it is time to impose targeted sanctions against individuals 
or, as a smaller number of countries believe, impose an 
integrated arms embargo. 
 
¶6. (C) The UK argued that the sanctions committee should 
"actively pursue" the recommendations made by the MG.  They 
had hoped the resolution would contain a deadline for the 
committee to discuss additional sanctions.  The Russians 
showed support for targeted sanctions, but had little 
enthusiasm for an integrated arms embargo.  France expressed 
support for an integrated arms embargo. 
 
¶7. (C) China supports exempting the TFG from the arms embargo 
for political capacity-building. Qatar said that all 
proposals should be on the table, and observed that granting 
a partial exemption to the arms embargo does not mean an end 
to the arms embargo. (NOTE: Greece and UK are on record in 
the sanctions committee last week supporting a partial 
exemption at the appropriate time, and the UK has informed us 
that France is also interested. END NOTE.) 
 
¶8. (C) Ambassador Sanders made the following points: 
 
-- We welcome the latest report of the Somalia Monitoring 
Group and thank them for their hard work. 
 
-- The United States continues to support the establishment 
of a functioning central government in Somalia capable of 
bringing the country out of civil conflict.  We also believe 
that every effort must be made to prevent Somalia from 
serving as a base of operations for terrorist organizations. 
 
-- We urge Somali leaders to continue efforts towards 
re-establishing effective governance through a process of 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000972  002 OF 003 
 
 
peace and reconciliation and to disavow the use of violence. 
 
 
-- We commend the resolution's support for the Special 
Representative of the Secretary General to help end the civil 
conflict.  We also appreciate the work of the African Union 
and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to support 
the Transitional Federal Institutions. 
 
-- We look forward to adopting the resolution to extend the 
Monitoring Group's mandate for another six months.  And we 
thank Qatar for its leadership in the Sanctions Committee. 
 
¶9. (U) Begin text of Security Council Resolution 1676 
 
The Security Council, 
 
Reaffirming its previous resolutions and the statements of 
its President concerning the situation in Somalia, in 
particular resolution 733 (1992) of 23 January 1992, which 
established an embargo on all delivery of weapons and 
military equipment to Somalia (hereinafter referred to as the 
"arms embargo'), resolution 1519 (2003) of 16 December 2003, 
resolution 1558 (2004) of 17 August 2004, resolution 1587 
(2005) of 15 March 2005 and resolution 1630 (2005) of 14 
October 2005, 
 
Reaffirming the importance of the sovereignty, territorial 
integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia, 
 
Reiterating the urgent need for all Somali leaders to take 
tangible steps to continue political dialogue, 
 
Reiterating its strong support for the special Representative 
of the Secretary-General, 
 
Stressing the need for the Transitional Federal Institutions 
to continue working towards establishing effective national 
governance in Somalia, 
 
Commending the efforts of the African Union and the 
Intergovernmental Authority on Development in support of the 
Transitional Federal Institutions and welcoming the African 
Union's continued support for national reconciliation in 
Somalia, 
 
Taking note of the report of the Monitoring Group dated 5 
April 2006 (S/2006/229, annex) submitted pursuant to 
paragraph 3 (i) of resolution 1630 (2005) and the 
observations and recommendations contained therein, 
 
Condemning the significant increase in the flow of weapons 
and ammunition and supplies to and through Somalia, which 
constitutes a violation of the arms embargo and a serious 
threat to the Somali peace process, 
 
Concerned about the increasing incidents of piracy and armed 
robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia, and 
its impact on security in Somalia, 
 
Reiterating its insistence that all Member States, in 
particular those in the region, should refrain from any 
action in contravention of the arms embargo and should take 
all necessary steps to hold violators accountable, 
 
Reiterating and underscoring the importance of enhancing the 
monitoring of the arms embargo in Somalia through persistent 
and vigilant investigation into the violations, bearing in 
mind that strict enforcement of the arms embargo will improve 
the overall security situation in Somalia. 
 
Determining that the situation in Somalia constitutes a 
threat to international peace and security in the region, 
 
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, 
 
¶1.  Stresses the obligation of all Member States to comply 
fully with the measures imposed by resolution 733 (1992); 
 
¶2.  Expresses its intention, in light of the report of the 
Monitoring Group dated 5 April 2006 (S/2006/229, annex), to 
consider specific actions to improve implementation of and 
compliance with measures imposed by resolution 733 (1992); 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000972  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶3.  Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the 
Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) of 24 
April 1992 (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee"), to 
re-established within thirty days from the date of the 
adoption of this resolution, and for a period of six months, 
the Monitoring Group referred to in paragraph 3 of resolution 
1558 (2004), with the following mandate: 
 
(a) to continue the tasks outlined in paragraphs 3(a) to (c) 
of resolution 1587 (2005); 
 
(b) to continue to investigate, in coordination with relevant 
international agencies, all activities, including in the 
financial, maritime and other sectors, which generate 
revenues used to commit arms embargo violations; 
 
(c)  to continue to investigate any means of transport, 
routes, seaports, airports and other facilities used in 
connection with arms embargo violations; 
 
(d)  to continue refining and updating information on the 
draft list of those individuals and entities who violate the 
measures implemented by Member States in accordance with 
resolution 733 (1992), inside and outside Somalia, and their 
active supporters, for possible future measures by the 
Council, and to present such information to the Committee as 
and when the Committee deems appropriate; 
 
(e)  to continue making recommendations based on its 
investigations, on the previous reports of the Panel of 
Experts (S/2003/223 and S/2003/1035 appointed pursuant to 
resolutions 1425 (2002) of 22 July 2002 and 1474 (2003) of 8 
April 2003, and on the previous reports of the Monitoring 
Group (S/2004/604, S/2005/153, S/2005/625 and S/2006/229) 
appointed pursuant to resolutions 1519 (2003) of 16 December 
2003, 1558 (2004) of 17 August 2004, 1587 (2005) of 15 March 
2005 and 1630 (2005) of 14 October 2005; 
 
(f)  to work closely with the Committee on specific 
recommendations for additional measures to improve overall 
compliance with the arms embargo; 
 
(g)  to assist in identifying areas where the capacities of 
States in the region can be strengthened to facilitate the 
implementation of the arms embargo; 
 
(h)  to provide to the Council, through the Committee, a 
midterm briefing within 90 days from its establishment; 
 
(i)  to submit, for the Security Council's consideration, 
through the Committee, a final report covering all the tasks 
set out above, no later than 15 days prior to the termination 
of the Monitoring Group's mandate; 
 
¶4.  Further requests the Secretary-General to make the 
necessary financial arrangements to support the work of the 
Monitoring Group; 
 
¶5.  Reaffirms paragraphs, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10 of resolution 
1519 (2003); 
 
¶6.  Requests the Committee, in accordance with its mandate 
and in consultation with the Monitoring Group and other 
relevant United Nations entities, to consider the 
recommendations in the report of the Monitoring Group dated 5 
April 2006 and recommend to the Council ways to improve 
implementation of and compliance with the arms embargo, in 
response to continuing violations; 
 
¶7.  Further requests the Committee to consider, when 
appropriate, a visit to Somalia and/or the region by its 
Chairman and those he may designate, as approved by the 
Committee, to demonstrate the Security Council's 
determination to give full effect to the arms embargo; 
 
¶8.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. 
 
End text. 
BOLTON