Adopted by the Security Council at its 4168th meeting, on 5 July 2000
The Security Council,
Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President
concerning the situation in Sierra Leone, and in particular its resolutions
1132
(1997) of 8 October 1997, 1171 (1998) of 5 June 1998 and 1299 (2000)
of 19 May 2000,
Affirming the commitment of all States to respect the sovereignty,
political independence and territorial integrity of Sierra Leone,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 19 May
2000 (S/ 2000/ 455), and in particular its paragraph 94,
Determining that the situation in Sierra Leone continues to constitute
a threat to international peace and security in the region,
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
Expressing its concern at the role played by the illicit
trade in diamonds in fuelling the conflict in Sierra Leone, and at reports
that such diamonds transit
neighbouring countries, including the territory of Liberia,
Welcoming ongoing efforts by interested States, the International
Diamond Manufacturers Association, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses,
the Diamond High Council, other representatives of the diamond industry
and non-governmental experts to improve the transparency of the international
diamond trade, and encouraging further action in this regard,
Emphasizing that the legitimate diamond trade is of great economic
importance for many States, and can make a positive contribution to
prosperity and stability and to the reconstruction of countries emerging
from conflict, and emphasizing further that nothing in this resolution
is intended to undermine the legitimate diamond trade or to diminish
confidence in the integrity of the legitimate diamond industry,
Welcoming the decision taken by the member States of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at their Abuja summit
on 28-29 May 2000 to undertake a regional inquiry into the illegal trade
in diamonds,
Taking note of the letter of 29 June 2000 to its President from
the Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and
of its enclosure
(S/ 2000/ 641),
1. Decides that all States shall take the necessary measures
to prohibit the direct or indirect import of all rough diamonds from
Sierra Leone to their territory;
2. Requests the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure, as a
matter of urgency, that an effective Certificate of Origin regime for
trade in diamonds is in
operation in Sierra Leone;
3. Also requests States, relevant international organizations
and other bodies in a position to do so to offer assistance to the Government
of Sierra Leone to facilitate the full operation of an effective Certificate
of Origin regime for Sierra Leone rough diamonds;
4. Further requests the Government of Sierra Leone to notify
the Committee established by resolution 1132 (1997) (" the Committee")
of the details of
such a Certificate of Origin regime when it is fully in operation;
5. Decides that rough diamonds controlled by the Government of
Sierra Leone through the Certificate of Origin regime shall be exempt
from the measures
imposed in paragraph 1 above when the Committee has reported to the
Council, taking into account expert advice obtained at the request of
the Committee through the Secretary-General, that an effective regime
is fully in operation;
6. Decides that the measures referred to in paragraph 1 above
are established for an initial period of 18 months, and affirms that,
at the end of this
period, it will review the situation in Sierra Leone, including the
extent of the Government's authority over the diamond-producing areas,
in order to decide
whether to extend these measures for a further period and, if necessary,
to modify them or adopt further measures;
7. Further decides that the Committee shall also undertake
the following tasks:
(a) To seek from all States further information regarding the action
taken by them with a view to implementing effectively the measures imposed
by paragraph 1 above;
(b) To consider information brought to its attention concerning violations
of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 above, identifying where possible
persons or entities, including vessels, reported to be engaged in such
violations;
(c) To make periodic reports to the Security Council on information
submitted to it regarding alleged violations of the measures imposed
by paragraph 1
above, identifying where possible persons or entities, including vessels,
reported to be engaged in such violations;
(d) To promulgate such guidelines as may be necessary to facilitate
the implementation of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 above;
(e) To continue its cooperation with other relevant sanctions committees
in particular that established pursuant to resolution 985 (1995) of
13 April 1995
concerning Liberia and that established pursuant to resolution 864 (1993)
of 15 September 1993 concerning the situation in Angola;
8. Requests all States to report to the Committee established
by resolution 1132 (1997), within 30 days of the adoption of this resolution,
on the actions they have taken to implement the measures imposed by
paragraph 1 above;
9. Calls upon all States, in particular those through which rough
diamonds from Sierra Leone are known to transit, and all relevant international
and regional organizations to act strictly in accordance with the provisions
of this resolution notwithstanding the existence of any rights or obligations
conferred or imposed by any international agreement or any contract
entered into or any licence or permit granted prior to the date of adoption
of this resolution;
10. Encourages the International Diamond Manufacturers Association,
the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, the Diamond High Council and
all other representatives of the diamond industry to work with the Government
of Sierra Leone and the Committee to develop methods and working practices
to facilitate the effective implementation of this resolution;
11. Invites States, international organizations, members of the
diamond industry and other relevant entities in a position to do so
to offer assistance to the
Government of Sierra Leone to contribute to the further development
of a well-structured and well-regulated diamond industry that provides
for the identification of the provenance of rough diamonds;
12. Requests the Committee to hold an exploratory hearing in
New York no later than 31 July 2000 to assess the role of diamonds in
the Sierra Leone conflict and the link between trade in Sierra Leone
diamonds and trade in arms and related materi�l in violation
of resolution 1171 (1998), involving representatives of interested States
and regional organizations, the diamond industry and other relevant
experts, requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary
resources, and further requests the Committee to report on the
hearing to the Council;
13. Wel comes the commitments made by certain members of the
diamond industry not to trade in diamonds originating from conflict
zones, including in Sierra Leone, urges all other companies and
individuals involved in trading in rough diamonds to make similar declarations
in respect of Sierra Leone diamonds, and underlines the importance
of relevant financial institutions encouraging such companies to do
so;
14. Stresses the need for the extension of government authority
to the diamond-producing areas for a durable solution to the problem
of illegal
exploitation of diamonds in Sierra Leone;
15. Decides to conduct a first review on the measures imposed
by paragraph 1 above no later than 15 September 2000, and further such
reviews every
six months after the date of adoption of the resolution, and to consider
at those times what further measures may be necessary;
16. Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and, as
appropriate, other organizations and interested parties to report to
the Committee information on possible violations of the measures imposed
by paragraph 1 above;
Stressing the need to ensure effective implementation of
the measures concerning arms and related materiel imposed by paragraph
2 of resolution 1171
(1998),
Stressing the obligation of all Member States, including those neighbouring
Sierra Leone, to comply fully with the measures imposed by the Council,
Recalling the ECOWAS Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation
and Manufacture of Light Weapons in West Africa adopted in Abuja on
31 October 1998 (S/ 1998/ 1194, annex),
17. Reminds States of their obligation to implement fully the
measures imposed by resolution 1171 (1998), and calls upon them,
where they have not
already done so, to enforce, strengthen or enact, as appropriate,
legislation making it a criminal offence under domestic law for their
nationals or other persons operating on their territory to act in violation
of the measures imposed by paragraph 2 of that resolution, and to report
to the Committee not later than 31 July 2000 on the implementation of
those measures;
18. Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and, as
appropriate, other organizations and interested parties to report to
the Committee information on possible violations of the measures imposed
by the Council;
19. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the
Committee, to establish a panel of experts, for an initial period of
four months, consisting of no
more than five members:
(a) To collect information on possible violations of the measures imposed
by paragraph 2 of resolution 1171 (1998) and the link between trade
in diamonds and trade in arms and related materiel including through
visits to Sierra Leone and other States as appropriate, and making contact
with those they consider appropriate, including diplomatic missions;
(b) To consider the adequacy, for the purpose of detecting flights of
aircraft suspected of carrying arms and related materiel across national
borders in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution
1171 (1998), of air traffic control systems in the region;
(c) To participate, if possible, in the hearing referred to in paragraph
12 above;
(d) To report to the Council through the Committee with observations
and recommendations on strengthening the implementation of the measures
imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution 1171 (1998), and of those imposed
by paragraph 1 above, no later than 31 October 2000;
and further requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary
resources;
20. Expresses its readiness, on the basis, inter alia, of
the report produced pursuant to paragraph 19 (d) above, to consider
appropriate action in relation to States that it determines to have
violated the measures imposed by paragraph 2 of resolution 1171 (1998)
and paragraph 1 above;
21. Urges all States to cooperate with the panel in the discharge
of its mandate, and underlines, in this regard, the importance
of the cooperation and
technical expertise of the Secretariat and other parts of the United
Nations system;
22. Requests the Committee to strengthen existing contacts with
regional organizations, in particular ECOWAS and the Organization of
African Unity, and
relevant international organizations, including INTERPOL, with a view
to identifying ways to improve effective implementation of the measures
imposed by
paragraph 2 of resolution 1171 (1998);
23. Requests the Committee to make information it considers relevant
publicly available through appropriate media, including through the
improved use of
information technology;
24. Requests the Secretary-General to publicize the provisions
of this resolution and the obligations imposed by it;
25. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
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