32002E0992

Council Common Position

of 19 December 2002

concerning a prohibition on imports of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone

(2002/992/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Whereas:

(1) Following the adoption on 19 December 2001 of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1385(2001) extending until 5 December 2002 the measures imposed by Resolution 1306(2000) prohibiting the direct or indirect import of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone for an initial period of 18 months, while exempting imports of rough diamonds whose origin is certified by the Government of Sierra Leone, the Council adopted Common Position 2002/22/CFSP(1), which expired on 5 December 2002.

(2) On 4 December 2002, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1446(2002) whereby the measures imposed by Resolution 1306(2000) are to remain in force for a new period of 6 months from 5 December 2002. A new Common Position should therefore be adopted.

(3) Action by the Community is needed in order to implement the required measures,

HAS ADOPTED THIS COMMON POSITION:

Article 1

The direct or indirect import of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone to the Community shall be prohibited under the conditions set out in United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1306(2000), 1385(2001) and 1446(2002).

Article 2

Rough diamonds controlled by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Certificate of Origin regime consistent with paragraph 5 of Resolution 1306(2000) shall continue to be exempt from the measure referred to in Article 1.

Article 3

This Common Position shall be reviewed as the need arises.

Article 4

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

It shall be applicable from 5 December 2002.

It shall expire on 5 June 2003.

Article 5

This Common Position shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Brussels, 19 December 2002.

For the Council

The President

L. Espersen

(1) OJ L 10, 12.1.2002, p. 81.