(1)

On 10 February 2004, the Council adopted Common Position 2004/137/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Liberia (1) in order to implement the measures imposed against Liberia by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1521 (2003). These measures were renewed by Council Common Position 2006/31/CFSP (2).

(2)

In the light of the developments in Liberia, the UN Security Council on 13 June 2006 adopted Resolution 1683 (2006) introducing further exemptions to the measures imposed by paragraphs 2(a) and (b) of UNSCR 1521 (2003) concerning the arms embargo.

(3)

On 20 June 2006, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1689 (2006), which renews for a further period of 6 months the measures imposed by paragraph 6 of UNSCR 1521 (2003), concerning the prohibition of imports from Liberia of all rough diamonds.

(4)

The UN Security Council also decided not to renew the measures imposed by paragraph 10 of UNSCR 1521 (2003), concerning the prohibition of imports of all round log and timber products originating in Liberia; however, it decided to review that decision after a period of ninety (90) days, with a view to reinstating those measures unless informed within that period that the forestry legislation proposed by the Forest Reform Monitoring Committee (FRMC) has been passed.

(5)

The measures imposed by Common Position 2004/137/CFSP and renewed by Common Position 2006/31/CFSP should therefore be modified and, where applicable, renewed in order to give effect to UNSCR 1683 (2006) and UNSCR 1689 (2006).

(6)

Action by the Community is needed in order to implement certain of these measures,

(a)

weapons and ammunition already provided to members of the Special Security Service (SSS) for training purposes and remaining in the custody of the SSS for unencumbered operational use, provided that their transfer to the SSS had been approved in advance by the Committee established by paragraph 21 of UNSC 1521 (2003) (‘the Committee’), and technical and financial assistance related to such weapons and ammunition;

(b)

weapons and ammunition intended for use by members of the Government of Liberia police and security forces who have been vetted and trained since the inception of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, provided that such supplies have been approved in advance by the Committee, upon a joint request by the Government of Liberia and the exporting State, and technical and financial assistance related to such weapons and ammunition.