New UN mechanism to monitor sanctions

The UN Security Council has approved a new sanctions monitoring mechanism for Angola and warned countries that have violated embargoes against UNITA rebels they may face penalties.

The Security Council resolution 1295 passed on Tuesday requests the Secretary-General to establish a monitoring mechanism of up to five experts to further investigate violations of the arms and fuel embargo on UNITA, and the ban on rebel diamond sales. The new team, following on from the work of a Panel of Experts set up last year, is to sit for six months and present a
report on improving the sanctions regime against UNITA by 18 October.

The findings of the team, together with additional information provided by member countries - particularly those named in the Panel of Experts report - would be evaluated by the Security Council. A decision is to be taken by 18 November on "appropriate action" against those violating sanctions, and the consideration of "additional measures" against UNITA, the resolution said.

The Security Council also welcomed decisions by countries mentioned in the March Panel of Experts report to investigate UNITA links. The report accused Burkina Faso and Togo of helping the rebel movement in exchange for diamonds, Bulgaria for violations of the arms embargo, and Belgium for having lax procedures at its Antwerp diamond market that facilitated the
trade in UNITA diamonds.

Angola sanctions chairman and Canadian ambassador Robert Fowler, responding to the debate over whether the resolution should have demanded immediate penalties against named sanctions-busters, said: "The purpose of the resolution is, instead, to provide all states with the opportunity to answer the allegations of the Expert Panel, to end sanctions-violations where they have occurred, and to bring their actions into conformity with the
clearly-articulated will of the international community."

Alex Vines of Human Rights Watch, the civil liberties group that has monitored sanctions, said the "period of grace" before the Security Council reviewed compliance was a "compromise". However, he told IRIN: "It's useful to have a period for further investigation and reflection into those countries named and shamed. The resolution clearly says they are not off the
hook."

He was more concerned that a five-member panel may be too small to effectively follow up investigations, as UNITA was likely to shift its supply routes through other countries not named in the March report. He stressed the need for the panel to have proper logistical and administrative support from the United Nations, and recommended that it be based in southern Africa.

The Security Council resolution also called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to do more in monitoring sanctions on UNITA. It encouraged the creation of a database on fuel supplies, better information exchange on possible illegal diversions, and to strengthen air traffic control systems to detect illegal flights. It also called on the Angolan
government to tighten its internal fuel distribution system to prevent smuggling to UNITA.

To view the text of Security Council Resolution 1295 click here