32003E0666

Council Common Position 2003/666/CFSP

of 22 September 2003

amending Common Position 2001/357/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Liberia

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 15 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 7 May 2001 the Council adopted Common Position 2001/357/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Liberia(1) so as to implement UNSC Resolution 1343 (2001) setting out measures to be imposed against Liberia, adopted on 7 March 2001 by the United Nations Security Council, (hereinafter referred to as UNSCR 1343 (2001)).

(2) On 1 August 2003 the United Nations Security Council adopted UNSCR 1497 (2003) authorising the establishment of a multinational force in Liberia to support the implementation of the Liberian ceasefire agreement signed in Accra on 17 June 2003 and providing for an exception to the existing arms embargo against Liberia in support of that multinational force.

(3) Common Position 2001/357/CFSP should be amended accordingly.

(4) Action by the Community is needed in order to implement certain measures,

HAS ADOPTED THIS COMMON POSITION:

Article 1

Article 1 of Common Position 2001/357/CFSP shall be replaced by the following:

"Article 1

1. The supply or sale of arms and related materiel of all types including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned to Liberia by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, under the conditions set out in UNSCR 1343 (2001), shall be prohibited whether originating or not in their territories.

2. The provision to Liberia of technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items mentioned in paragraph 1 by nationals of Member States or from the territories of the Member States, shall be prohibited.

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to:

(a) supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use, and related technical assistance or training, as approved in advance by the Committee established by paragraph 14 of UNSCR 1343 (2001), nor shall they apply to protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Liberia by United Nations personnel, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel for their personal use only;

nor to

(b) supplies of arms and related materiel and technical training and assistance intended solely for support of and use by the Multinational Force in Liberia established to support the implementation of the Liberian ceasefire agreement signed in Accra on 17 June 2003."

Article 2

This Common Position shall take effect on the date of its adoption.

It shall be applicable from 1 August 2003.

Article 3

This Common Position shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 22 September 2003.

For the Council

The President

R. Buttiglione

(1) OJ L 126, 8.5.2001, p. 1. Common Position as last amended by Common Position 2003/365/CFSP (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 49).