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DE RUCNDT #0626 1770119
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY TEXT AD80F3FF WSC10090-695)
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FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6777
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN PRIORITY 1508
RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA PRIORITY 1468
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000626 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  COPY (TAG LINE ADDED) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM USNC LI KCRM
SUBJECT: LIBERIA SANCTIONS: COUNCIL CONSIDERS EXPERT 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: On June 25, Uganda Perm Rep, reporting on behalf 
of chair of the Liberia Sanctions Committee ("1521 
Committee") briefed the Committee on the Panel of Expert's 
(POE) midterm report.  Ambassador DiCarlo thanked the POE for 
recommendations on strengthening the efficacy of the 
sanctions regime, stated that the United States is exploring 
ways to assist the Government of Liberia (GOL) in fulfilling 
its obligations to implement the measures, and noted the 
POE's concern that the GOL must better manage and administer 
natural resources controls, particularly diamonds. Council 
members were positive about the work of the POE but raised 
concerns over Liberia's management of the timber and diamond 
industries and its failure to implement assets freeze. END 
SUMMARY. 
¶2. On June 25, Uganda Perm Rep Rugunda, vice chair of the 
Liberia Sanctions Committee ("1521 Committee"), briefed the 
UN Security Council on the POE's midterm report (NOTE: 
Committee Chair, Libya Perm Rep Shalgham, was not in New 
York). His summary of the POE report included: 1) Liberia's 
decreased attention to compliance with the Kimberly Process 
(KP); 2) the impact of the global economic crisis on 
Liberia's diamond industry; 3) the slow pace and low revenues 
of Liberia's development of timber concessions (NOTE: Three 
years have passed since the timber sanctions ban was lifted 
and Liberia has not exported any legally harvested timber. 
END NOTE); 4) Liberia's failure to implement assets freeze 
against listed individuals; and 5) the UN Mission in 
Liberia's (UNMIL) key role in monitoring the arms embargo. 
 
 
¶3. Ambassador DiCarlo thanked the POE for recommendations on 
how to strengthen the Liberia sanctions regime and make the 
committee more efficient.  She relayed to the Council that 
the United States is exploring ways to be responsive to 
President Johnson Sirleaf's request for assistance to help 
the GOL increase its ability to implement its asset freeze 
obligations.  DiCarlo commended UNMIL for its role in helping 
the GOL re-establish proper administration and control over 
natural resources.  She also underscored the recommendation 
that the GOL strengthen internal controls on diamond mining 
and trading and urged the GOL to enhance regional KP 
collaboration. 
 
¶4. UK Perm Rep Sawers was encouraged by the committee's 
recent work in delisting individuals.  He expressed concern, 
however, over POE reports that listed individuals have 
continuing contacts with Charles Taylor, warning that the 
"Taylorites" remain a risk to Liberia's security. 
 
¶5. French Perm Rep Ripert strongly urged Liberia to implement 
asset freeze obligations calling Liberia's lack of 
implementation a matter of will and not legislation.  He 
cautioned that Liberia's unwillingness to comply sets a 
"disastrous" precedent and undermines the Security Council's 
ability to enforce sanctions in other African regimes. He 
also stated that Liberia's inability to benefit from the 
lifting of timber and diamond bans points to a "governance 
problem." 
 
¶6. Burkina Faso Perm Rep Kafando expressed satisfaction with 
Liberia's progress and urged that UNMIL continue its key role 
in monitoring the borders and diamond controls.  He stressed 
that Liberia must continue to implement sanctions and asked 
Liberia to "redouble its efforts."  Kafando noted the 
positive report on arms embargo compliance despite the 
challenge of porous borders. Vietnam stated that Liberia 
sanctions should be reviewed to ensure that measures are not 
undermining national reconciliation and reintegration nor 
hurting the people of Liberia. 
 
¶7. On natural resource administration, Burkina Faso, Costa 
Rica, China and Mexico urged the GOL to develop Liberia's 
natural resource industries so that these industries may 
benefit the local economy and contribute to Liberia's 
economic development.  In particular, Burkina Faso stressed 
the need to implement strict forestry laws and procedures 
with regards to export contracts. China stressed Liberia's 
obligation to comply fully with the POE in all fields, 
including management of natural resources.  Burkina Faso and 
Costa Rica also welcomed the POE's cooperation with Interpol 
and other UN bodies. 
 
RICE