Sanctions 'stifle peace'
2004-06-04 10:37
New York - Liberia's interim leader on Thursday appealed to the United Nations to lift sanctions on his country, saying his government desperately needs revenues to maintain a fragile peace.
The plea by Gyude Bryant, chairman of a transitional government arranged under an August peace accord, followed an optimistic UN report citing "steady progress" by UN peacekeepers in stabilizing the security situation in the west African nation.
"There is an urgent need to revive our economy and create jobs in support of the reintegration of ex-combatants and the internally displaced," Bryant said during an open UN Security Council meeting. "Liberia makes a passionate appeal to you today to lift the sanctions on timber and diamonds."
Security council members welcomed Liberia's progress toward peace nearly a year after ousted President Charles Taylor fled into exile but they cautioned that many challenges remained.
US deputy ambassador Stuart Holliday indicated it was premature to discuss the lifting of sanctions.
"There will be no lasting change in Liberia absent the establishment of values that reflect honesty, trust, service, transparency and accountability," Holliday said.
The appeal marked a reversal for Bryant, who had endorsed the UN decision to renew the sanctions on diamonds, timber and arms in December, saying his government had yet to bring the country fully under control following 14 years of conflict.
"We are pleased to report that the war is over and Liberia is now at peace with her neighbours," he said, stressing that his government has taken measures to protect its resources.
The sanctions were first imposed in 2001 to try to stop Taylor's regional war-making by curtailing some of the principle riches of his regime.
The report by Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the UN peacekeeping mission - currently its largest - is nearing its full strength of 15 000 in Liberia. But it said peace was still threatened by thousands of fighters who have not disarmed.
UN forces have made "steady progress" in stabilising Liberia and no major violence has been reported, Annan said in the report, but he added that "many daunting challenges still lie ahead".
"The security situation remains fragile, mainly because the disarmament process is yet to be completed," he said.
UN envoy Jacques Klein told the 15-nation Security Council that the disarmament process was progressing smoothly after a rocky start. He said more than 70 percent of an estimated 50 000 fighters had been disarmed and 16 065 weapons collected as of May 31, the most recent figures.
Klein also said the UN force was monitoring the transitional government's efforts to ensure proper management of the country's diamond and timber riches. He said the country "badly needs reliable sources of revenue" to function effectively.
Liberia's transitional government is expected to arrange elections for late 2005 and cede power to a representative government in early 2006.
- AP