“The government of Liberia security transition plan focuses on Liberians taking over tasks still performed by UNMIL,” said SRSG Landgren, who is also head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
 
She made the statement Thursday when she briefed journalists on the Security Council’s recent decision to resume the drawdown of UNMIL forces in Liberia at the mission’s headquarters in Sinkor.
 
She lauded the Liberian government for meeting the initial benchmarks of the Security Council’s transition plans which include ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty on April 21 and taking over responsibility for marking and registering arms.
 
She added that in spite of the drawdown exercises, UNMIL will continue to work closely with the Liberia National Police, Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, Armed Forces of Liberia and Ministry of Justice to strengthen capacity throughout the transition period.
 
SRSG Landgren hoped that the Joint Implementation Group for this plan will meet soon to start monitoring progress in the transitioning responsibility.
 
The drawdown exercise will see UNMIL military ceiling reduced to 3,590 personnel, while the police will be brought to 1,515 personnel, both by September this year.
 
UNMIL took over peacekeeping duties from ECOWAS forces on October 1, 2003 with some 3,500 West African troops who had been serving with the ECOMIL vanguard force re-hatted as United Nations peacekeepers.
 
The mission consisted of 15,000 United Nations military personnel, including up to 250 military observers and 160 staff officers, and up to 1,115 UN police officers, including formed units to assist in the maintenance of law and order throughout Liberia, and the appropriate civilian component.
 
The mandate of the Mission was initially for a period of 12 months but was extended over time at the request of the U.N Secretary General.
LINA BK/TSS/PTK