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afrol News, 28 October - A new report by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan released today outlines that Liberia has allocated half of its 2002/2003 national budget to defence and security requirements. This was an indication that "no relief is in sight for the ongoing conflict which has maimed, killed and displaced thousands in the country," Mr Annan says. - The recent crisis in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire, which already hosts a huge Liberian refugee population, is likely to complicate the security situation in the subregion, the UN Secretary-General notes in a report to the Security Council released today based on information provided by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the government of Liberia as well as the UN Mission in Sierra Leone on links between members of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the Liberian government. By a resolution adopted last year, the UN Security Council had requested Monrovia to expel all RUF members from Liberia, freeze funds that could be linked to RUF and cease all financial and military support for the group. Despite a UN weapons embargo, independent sources quoted in Mr Annan's report "believed that the government of Liberia had continued to import arms and ammunition." This had been essential in the ongoing civil war in the country. For example, An aircraft suspected to be carrying arms was said to have crashed near Robertsfield airport in Monrovia on 15 February. On the other hand, the Liberian government had tried to comply with the Security Council resolution on the issue of a certificate of origin for rough diamonds. However, the government had not been able to establish a certificate of origin due to interference from other states. Further, there was now a reverse flow of indirect trade in diamonds from Liberia to neighbouring countries as Liberia's diamond mining areas were now controlled by rebels. Urging the Security Council to remain engaged in helping Liberia and its people, Mr Annan called attention to the broader implications of stability in the country. "Peace in Liberia is vital not only for efforts to an end to the suffering of the Liberian people but also to help consolidate the important gains made in Sierra Leone within the wider framework of promoting sustainable peace and security in the subregion." He said solutions to Liberia's multiple challenges could not be found through military means and welcomed the recent establishment of the International Contact Group on Liberia, the continuation of the Rabat process and the reaffirmation by the Security Council of its support for initiative ECOWAS as useful moves to finding an early solution to the country's conflict. The UN Secretary-General also welcomed the Liberian government's indication that it was prepared to engage in dialogue with dissidents of the Liberians United for Reconstruction and Democracy (LURD) as long as they agreed to stop fighting. - In conclusion, I wish to urge the Security Council again to remain engaged with Liberia and its people, Mr Annan writes. "Peace in Liberia is vital not only for efforts to put an end to the suffering of the Liberian people but also to help consolidate the important gains made in Sierra Leone within the wider framework of promoting sustainable peace and security in the subregion." Sources: Based on UN sources and afrol archives
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