Diamond sanctions against Liberia extended

The United Nations Security Council has extended sanctions aimed at preventing Liberia from exporting rough diamonds, saying the situation in the West African country continues to pose a threat to international peace. At the same time the Council lifted the ban on the export of round logs and timber as it applauded the country�s new President for her efforts in managing the nation�s forests. The Council first imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Liberia in May 2001 after receiving reports that the West African country�s natural resources were fuelling conflict in the region.

Voting unanimously, the Council renewed for six months the sanctions that call on Member States to prevent the direct or indirect import of all rough diamonds from Liberia, regardless of whether such diamonds originated there, in order to allow the Government to set up an �effective Certificate of Origin� regime for such trade.

The Council welcomed Liberia�s continuing cooperation with the Kimberley Process and deciding to give its government sufficient time to establish a transparent and internationally verifiable certificate of origin regime for trade in rough diamonds. The Council plans to review the decision after four months, and has called on Liberia to provide the Sanctions Committee with a detailed description of the proposed certificate of origin regime.