RP to head UNSC sanctions committee

The Philippines has been elected head of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions committee overseeing the implementation of the arms embargo on Somalia, and vice-chairman of two other sanctions committees on Liberia and Iraq.

Ambassador Lauro Baja, the Philippines’ permanent representative to the UN, said in a statement that he will be chairing the panel on Somalia, which is considered one of the most difficult committees of the UN Security Council.

UN Security Council Resolution No. 733 passed in January 1992 imposes a complete arms embargo on Somalia because of the threat to the security and stability of the East African region posed by the continued entry of weapons and munitions into the country.

The vice chairman status on the sanctions committees on Iraq and Liberia, Baja said, is significant, considering that the Philippines deployed humanitarian aid contingents to both countries last year.

The Philippines sent 97 military, medical and humanitarian aid personnel to Iraq last year as the government’s contribution to the effort to rehabilitate and rebuild Iraq after the United States-led coalition mounted a war there to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Saddam has since been captured and is in the hands of the US government. His sons Odai and Qusai were killed in the war.

The Philippine government deployed a peacekeeping force to Liberia to help maintain order in that country.

Baja said he has already informed Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert of the Philippines’ new assignments.

The Philippines was voted into the UNSC last year as the sole representative of Asia in the world security body.

Baja said the Philippines’ election as head and sub-heads of the three committees came just as he made his first statement before the UNSC.

Baja’s statement focused on the countries of Eritrea and Ethiopia in Africa, as he called for the strict implementation of decisions and recommendations made by the UNSC and its subsidiary bodies.

He said there is a "heavy sense of frustration whenever Security Council resolutions are wither ignored or remain unheeded."

He pointed out that there have been a total of nine resolutions and presidential statements regarding Eritrea and Ethiopia over the last four years.

The UNSC has the power to take enforcement measures as part of its mandate to maintain or restore international peace and security. These measures include economic and trade sanctions and international military actions.

Sanctions are imposed by the UNSC to pressure countries to comply with the decision of the body without the use of force.

The relevance of the UNSC was tested last year when the US and the United Kingdom decided to take military action against Iraq without the UNSC’s blessings.

Baja also called for the enhancement of the role of neighboring countries and regional organizations during conflict situations.

He added that the mandates and structures of the sanctions committees should be regularly reviewed and amended to respond to the changing situations.

Besides sanctioning Somalia, Liberia, Iraq, Eritrea and Ethiopia, the UNSC has over the last 10 years also sanctioned the former Yugoslavia, Libya, Haiti, Rwanda, Unita forces in Angola, Sudan, Sierra Leone, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (including Kosovo) and Afghanistan.

The sanctions the UNSC can impose include comprehensive economic and trade sanctions or more specific measure, like arms embargoes, travel bans and financial or diplomatic restrictions.