Global Policy Forum

By Edith M. Lederer

The Security Council refused to lift diamond and timber sanctions against Liberia but acknowledged the country has made progress toward meeting its conditions. The decision came in response to an appeal from interim leader Gyude Bryant, who says his government desperately needs the revenues from its two major exports to maintain peace and rebuild after 14 years of civil war that killed more than 150,000.

"While recognizing the need to lift the diamond and timber sanctions as soon as possible, and acknowledging the progress made so far, the members of the council concluded that the conditions for lifting were yet to be fully met," a council statement said. The council called on the government to meet the benchmarks before it conducts its next review in December. Those include the implementation of an international diamond certification system aimed at combatting smuggling. The council emphasized that "the continuation of sanctions was not punitive, but only meant to consolidate the peace."

The Security Council approved arms and diamond embargoes and a travel ban in May 2001 after determining that former president Charles Taylor's government had helped rebels in Sierra Leone. A new ban on the timber trade took effect in July 2003. Taylor fled into exile in August 2003, paving the way for Bryant's transitional government which is expected to arrange elections for late 2005 and cede power to a representative government in early 2006. Liberia was founded by freed American slaves before the United States' own civil war.

The council noted "with satisfaction" that no major violations of the arms embargo and diamond and timber sanctions had been reported since its last review in June. The council welcomed "the noteworthy progress in the diamond sector" but said a lack of funds was impeding the establishment of "an effective, transparent and internationally verifiable certificate" to certify the origin of Liberia's diamonds. Akram said the government must formally become part of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, which is the diamond industry's response to growing world concern about so-called "blood diamonds" that have fueled deadly wars in Congo, Liberia, Angola and Sierra Leone.

The council said there had been less progress in the timber sector and encouraged Liberia to make greater efforts to meet the council's conditions to lift sanctions by establishing full authority and control over timber-producing areas, and ensuring that revenues from the industry are used properly. "We have all agreed that it's not time yet to lift sanctions on Liberia," said U.S. deputy ambassador Stuart Holliday. Noting the country's need for revenue, the council expressed concern that only 50 percent of the money pledged in February to rebuild Liberia had actually gotten to the country.

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