S/PV.6238
6238th meeting
Monday, 14 December 2009, 10 a.m.
New York
Briefings by Chairmen of subsidiary bodies of the Security Council
Mr. Shalgham (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (spoke in Arabic): Permit me to take this opportunity to share with the Council some observations relating to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) on Liberia and the relevant sanctions regime. Libya has had the honour to chair the Committee over the past two years.
We are all aware of the sensitive situation in Liberia following a period of instability, war, confrontation and destruction. In May, we visited the United Nations forces in Liberia and witnessed first-hand the difficulties, changes and challenges they are facing. The Group of Experts entrusted to follow up on the sanctions on Liberia specified a number of tracks to assess and monitor: the diamond trade, the arms embargo, forestry, trade and investment, frozen assets and the movement of persons.
The Group created an accurate position and framework of reference for all those tracks. With regard to forestry, for example, there has been progress in the bidding on thousands of hectares of lumber and rubber for investment. There is some discrepancy in the numbers, but it does not represent a significant problem.
We are all aware of the situation in the region. The neighbouring States Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea remain unstable and subject to the movement of illicit arms initiated not by Governments but by individuals.
With regard to certain frozen assets, I can say that they are generally under control, while the Committee has effectively followed up and monitored the movement of persons. I can also say that the team of experts has gathered accurate information in that regard.
The Committee’s report notes that while the Government is trying to achieve a considerable level of transparency in exports, imports and taxation, it is facing logistical difficulties that it cannot fully overcome.
The report of the Group of Experts contains recommendations that I consider to be practical, and we call on the members of the Council and the Committee to voice their opinions on these recommendations. I believe the report’s recommendations to be objective and operable.
The report is comprehensive, long and detailed, and we have transmitted it to the President for distribution. I wish to thank him and all the members of the Council for the confidence they have shown in my country by inviting it to chair the 1521 Committee. I also wish to thank the Secretariat for its assistance to us. I wish our successors on the Committee great success. In conclusion, I reiterate my thanks to you, Sir, and the other members of the Council.
