30 May – Responding to a request
from the Security Council, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has named a
two-member team of specialists in connection with the enforcement of
UN sanctions against Somalia.
Ian Anthony, an expert on arms working for the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute, and Harjit Singh Sandhu, an
expert with Interpol investigative experience, will have 30 days to
prepare an "action plan detailing the resources and expertise
that the [proposed] Panel of Experts would require to be able to
generate independent information violations and for improving the
enforcement of the weapon and military equipment embargo,"
according to a letter from the Secretary-General to the Council
President which was made public at UN Headquarters.
Under a Council resolution
adopted earlier this month, the Panel of Experts would be charged
with pursing "any sources that might reveal information related
to violations, including relevant States, intergovernmental
organizations and international law enforcement cooperation bodies,
non-governmental organizations, financial institutions and
intermediaries, other brokering agencies, civil aviation companies
and authorities, members of the Transitional National Government,
local authorities, political and traditional leaders, civil society
and the business community."
The Security Council first imposed the arms embargo against
Somalia in 1992 with a view to establishing peace and stability in
the country.
Security Council
SC/7388, 4524th Meeting (AM)
3 May 2002
SECURITY
COUNCIL ASKS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ESTABLISH TEAM TO ASSESS
REQUIREMENTS
OF EXPERT PANEL TO
INVESTIGATE VIOLATIONS OF ARMS EMBARGO ON SOMALIA
Resolution 1407
(2002) Adopted Unanimously
The Security
Council asked the Secretary-General this morning to set up a
two-member team that would prepare an action plan to assess the
requirements for a panel of experts to investigate violations of
the arms embargo on Somalia and to strengthen its enforcement.
Concerned by the continued flow of weapons and ammunition
to Somalia, the Council requested that the team be set up within a
month and then spend 30 days preparing the plan, which would
detail needed resources and expertise. The
plan would be implemented by a special panel of experts after it
was presented to the Committee established by Council resolution
751 (1992).
(The arms embargo was established by resolution 733 (1992)
under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, for the purpose
of establishing peace and stability in Somalia.)
Unanimously
adopting resolution 1407 (2002) this morning, also under
Chapter VII, the Council required that the Panel
investigate violations of the arms embargo by land, air and sea;
detail information linked to such violations and to enforcement of
the embargo; carry out research in Somalia and other States;
assess the capacity of States in the region to fully implement the
embargo, including by review of national customs and border
control; and to recommend steps to strengthen its enforcement.
The Council called on all States, the Transitional National
Government and local authorities, other entities and individuals
in Somalia to cooperate fully with the Committee and experts.
It also asked all States to report to the Committee after
no more than 60 days on measures to ensure full implementation of
the embargo.
This morning's meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and adjourned at
10:14 a.m.
Resolution
Following is the full text of Council resolution 1407
(2002):
"The Security Council,
"Recalling its relevant resolutions concerning
the situation in Somalia, in particular resolution 733 (1992) of
23 January 1992,
"Further recalling the statement of its
President of 28 March 2002 (S/PRST/2002/8),
"Noting with serious concern the continued flow
of weapons and ammunition supplies to Somalia from other
countries, undermining peace and security and the political
efforts for national reconciliation in Somalia,
"Welcoming the forthcoming visit of the
Chairman of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 751
(1992) of 24 April 1992 (hereinafter referred to as “the
Committee”) to Somalia and States in the region in June 2002 and
looking forward to his report in this regard,
"Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the
United Nations,
"1.
Requests the Secretary-General to establish, within
one month from the date of adoption of this resolution, in
preparation for a Panel of Experts, a team of experts consisting
of two members for a period of 30 days, to provide the Committee
with an action plan detailing the resources and expertise that the
Panel of Experts will require to be able to generate independent
information on violations and for improving the enforcement of the
weapon and military equipment embargo established by paragraph 5
of resolution 733 (1992) (hereinafter referred to as “the arms
embargo”), including by: investigating the violations of the
arms embargo covering access to Somalia by land, air and sea, in
particular by pursuing any sources that might reveal information
related to violations, including relevant States,
intergovernmental organizations and international law enforcement
cooperation bodies, non-governmental organizations, financial
institutions and intermediaries, other brokering agencies, civil
aviation companies and authorities, members of the Transitional
National Government, local authorities, political and traditional
leaders, civil society and the business community;
-- detailing information in relevant
areas of expertise related to violations and enforcement of the
arms embargo in its various aspects;
-- carrying out field-based research,
where possible, in Somalia, States neighbouring Somalia and other
States, as appropriate;
-- assessing the capacity of States
in the region to implement fully the arms embargo, including
through a review of national customs and border control regimes;
-- providing recommendations on
possible practical steps for further strengthening the enforcement
of the arms embargo;
"2.
Requests the Chairman of the Committee to forward
the report of the team of experts, within two weeks of its
reception, to the Security Council for its consideration;
"3.
Expresses its determination to examine the findings
of the experts and the Chairman of the Committee and to take
further action in follow-up to the statement of its President of
28 March 2002 (S/PRST/2002/8) and paragraph 1 above by the end of
July 2002;
"4.
Calls on all States and the Transitional National
Government and local authorities in Somalia to cooperate fully
with the Chairman of the Committee and the team of experts in
their quests for information in accordance with this resolution,
including by facilitating visits to sites and actors and by
providing full access to government officials and records, as
requested by the Chairman of the Committee or the team of experts;
"5.
Urges all other individuals and entities contacted
by the Chairman of the Committee or the team of experts to
cooperate fully by providing relevant information and facilitating
their investigations, including political and traditional leaders,
members of civil society and the business community, financial
institutions and intermediaries, other brokering agencies, civil
aviation companies and authorities, non-governmental
organizations, intergovernmental organizations and international
law enforcement cooperation bodies;
"6.
Requests the Chairman of the Committee and the team
of experts to notify the Council immediately, through the
Committee, of any lack of cooperation by the authorities and
entities referred to above;
"7.
Requests the Secretary-General to work actively
through technical assistance and cooperation with the Transitional
National Government, local authorities and traditional civil and
religious leaders to enhance the administrative and judicial
capacities throughout Somalia to contribute to the monitoring and
enforcement of the arms embargo, in accordance with the statement
of its President of 28 March 2002, and invites all
humanitarian and developmental actors to promote and reinforce
this objective in a coordinated manner through their programmes of
assistance for Somalia;
"8.
Requests all States to report to the Committee no
later than 60 days from the adoption of this resolution and
thereafter according to the timetable set by the Committee on
measures they have in place to ensure the full and effective
implementation of the arms embargo, and with the view to
complementing the action taken by the Council pursuant to
paragraph 3 above;
"9.
Calls upon all States, in particular those in the
region, to provide the Committee with all available information on
violations of the arms embargo;
"10.
Decides to remain actively seized of the
matter."