Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 5705th Meeting, 25 June 2007, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Maintenance of International Peace and Security"]

S/PRST/2007/22View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 10 Maintenance of international peace and security, published in 2007.

What subjects does this mandate have?

7 subjects

Armed Conflicts International Security Natural Resources Peacebuilding Peacekeeping Operations Post-Conflict Reconstruction War Prevention

What’s in this document?

14 paragraphs

At the 5705th meeting of the Security Council, held on 25 June 2007, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council recalls the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and in particular the Security Council’s primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. In this respect, the Security Council recognizes the role that natural resources can play in armed conflict and post-conflict situations.”

“The Security Council reaffirms that every state has the full and inherent sovereign right to control and exploit its own natural resources in accordance with the Charter and the principles of international law.”

“The Security Council stresses that natural resources are a crucial factor in contributing to long-term economic growth and sustainable development.”

“The Security Council recalls resolution 1625 (2005) whereby the Council adopted the declaration on strengthening the effectiveness of the Security Council’s role in conflict prevention, particularly in Africa, in which it reaffirmed its determination to take action against illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural resources and high-value commodities in areas where it contributes to the outbreak, escalation or continuation of armed conflict.”

“Moreover, the Security Council notes that, in specific armed conflict situations, the exploitation, trafficking, and illicit trade of natural resources have played a role in areas where they have contributed to the outbreak, escalation or continuation of armed conflict. The Security Council, through its various resolutions, has taken measures on this issue, more specifically to prevent illegal exploitation of natural resources, especially diamonds and timber, from fuelling armed conflicts and to encourage transparent and lawful management of natural resources, including the clarification of the responsibility of management of natural resources, and has established sanctions committees and groups and panels of experts to oversee the implementation of those measures.”

“The Security Council emphasizes the importance of improving the work of and strengthening the contributions made by existing sanctions committees and the various experts’ groups and panels established by the Council in dealing with the impact of illegal exploitation of natural resources on conflicts in the countries under its consideration. The Security Council also recalls the work done by the Security Council Informal Working Group on General Issues of Sanctions (2006) and refers in this regard to its report (S/2006/997).”

“The Security Council recognizes that UN missions and peacekeeping operations deployed in resource-endowed countries experiencing armed conflict could play a role in helping the governments concerned, with full respect of their sovereignty over their natural resources, to prevent the illegal exploitation of those resources from further fuelling the conflict. The Security Council underlines the importance of taking this dimension of conflict into account, where appropriate, in the mandates of UN and regional peacekeeping operations, within their capabilities, including by making provision for assisting governments, upon their request, in preventing the illegal exploitation of natural resources by the parties to the conflict, in particular, where appropriate, by developing adequate observation and policing capacities to that end.”

“The Security Council recognizes, in conflict and post-conflict situations, the importance of cooperation, in shared responsibility, among source, transit and destination countries in preventing and combating trafficking, illicit trade, and illegal exploitation of natural resources. The Security Council also emphasizes the important contribution of commodity monitoring and certification schemes such as the Kimberley Process.”

“The Security Council acknowledges the crucial role that the Peacebuilding Commission, together with other UN and non-UN actors, can play, in post-conflict situations, in assisting governments, upon their request, in ensuring that natural resources become an engine for sustainable development. In this regard, the Security Council recognizes the role of voluntary initiatives aiming at improving revenue transparency such as Extractive Industries Transparancy Initiative (EITI). The Security Council also stresses that the use, disposal and management of natural resources is a multi-faceted and cross sector issue that involves various UN organizations. In this regard, the Security Council acknowledges the valuable contribution of various UN organizations in promoting lawful, transparent and sustainable management and exploitation of natural resources.”

“The Security Council recognizes the need for the private sector to contribute to the good governance and avoidance of illegal exploitation of natural resources in countries in conflict. In this regard, the Council also notes the important contribution voluntary principles and standards play in encouraging multinational enterprises to adopt a responsible business conduct such as provided for by OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the OECD Risk Awareness Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones and the UN Global Compact.”

“The Security Council stresses the important role, in the context of Security Sector Reform in post-conflict environment, of transparent and effective national security and customs structures for the effective control and management of natural resources by preventing the illegal access to and the trade and exploitation of those resources.”

“The Security Council emphasizes that, in countries emerging from conflict, lawful, transparent and sustainable management, -at local, national and international level-, and exploitation of natural resources is a critical factor in maintaining stability and in preventing a relapse into conflict. The Council recalls in this respect that it has welcomed country specific initiatives such as the Governance and Economic Assistance Management Program (GEMAP) in Liberia (S/RES/1626 (2005)) and related efforts such as the Liberia Forest Initiative.”

“The Security Council reiterates the important role of regional organizations in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations as well as its relevant resolutions 1625 (2005) and 1631 (2005), PRST 2006/39 and PRST 2007/7. In this regard, the Security Council recognizes, in armed conflict and post-conflict situations, the need for a more coordinated approach by the United Nations, regional organizations and governments concerned, in particular the empowerment of governments in post-conflict situations to better manage their resources.”

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents