S/PV.4926 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the fourteenth report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, document S/2003/1098, and document S/2003/1027, which contains the text of a letter dated 23 October 2003 from the Secretary-General. Members of the Council also have before them document S/2004/192, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1533 (2004).

The adoption today by the Security Council of a resolution to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of the arms embargo imposed under resolution 1493 (2003) represents a critical step forward in our collective effort to reduce the illegal flow of weapons into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We join with other delegations in condemning the ongoing violence and loss of life in the Congo perpetuated by these illicit weapons flows. Today’s resolution creates a sanctions Committee devoted to overseeing implementation of the arms restrictions that the Council authorized in July 2003. My delegation believes that the new Committee can and should play a key role in bringing coordinated, unified Council and international pressure to bear against those who continue to ship arms to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in direct violation of existing multilateral restrictions. The resolution provides us with helpful tools, such as the new sanctions Committee, that the Council can use to compel adherence by non-compliant parties to the standards and obligations we establish. However, the value of the information and recommendations brought to our attention by the experts will be realized only if the Council acts in response to such findings. The United States stands ready to work closely with other Council members to ensure that the arms embargo imposed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is respected and fully implemented by all parties.

In the context of the illegal exploitation of resources, the Pakistan delegation has consistently stated that the tracking of financial resources is important in order to eliminate the root causes of conflict. We would have liked to have an appropriate reflection of that in paragraphs 8 and 10 of the resolution. However, in the spirit of flexibility, we agreed to go along with the text. We will, of course, continue to refer to this subject as we move forward in our work for the implementation of this resolution.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council will remain seized of the matter.