Sanctions Regimes (Hansard, 26 October 2000)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

There have been changes to the following sanctions regimes.

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Following the election of Vojislav Kostunica as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), European Union Foreign Ministers agreed at the General Affairs Council on 9 October to revise EU sanctions against the FRY.

The EU oil embargo and flight ban were lifted with effect from 9 October. Legislation implementing these measures in the overseas territories by means of a licensing requirement is being repealed.

EU financial sanctions and the visa ban will be revised. Restrictive measures against Milosevic and his associates will be maintained.

The EU arms embargo and embargo on the supply to the FRY of equipment which might be used for internal repression or terrorism are unaffected. The UN arms embargo against the FRY and prohibition on the arming and training for terrorist activities there remain in force.

Ethiopia and Eritrea

UN Security Council Resolution 1298 (2000), which was adopted on 17 May, imposed an arms embargo and a ban on the provision of related technical assistance and training in relation to Ethiopia and Eritrea. Since then, two further Security Council resolutions have been adopted which set out exemptions for demining and peacekeeping purposes.

UNSCR 1312 (2000) was adopted on 1 August and exempts the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) from the prohibitions imposed by UNSCR 1298. UNSCR 1320 (2000) was adopted on 15 September and allows equipment and other material, including technical assistance and training, to be provided for demining within Ethiopia and Eritrea under the auspices of UNMAS. It also allows the sale and supply of arms and related material for the sole use of the United Nations in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Sierra Leone

UNSCR 1306 (2000), which was adopted on 5 July, imposed a ban on the import of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone. The resolution provided for an exemption from the ban for diamonds controlled by the Government of Sierra Leone through a certificate 54WA of origin regime when the UN Sanctions Committee on Sierra Leone had reported to the Security Council that an effective regime was fully in operation.

The committee chairman reported to the President of the Security Council on 6 October that the committee had no objection to the procedures to be implemented by the Government of Sierra Leone. Therefore, diamonds controlled through the government's certificate of origin regime are now exempt from the prohibition on the import of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone imposed by U NSCR 1306.