Ambassador Lauro L. Baja Jr., Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said the Security Council threw its full weight behind Resolution 1630, drafted by the Philippines, after the monitoring group established in 1992 reported a significant increase in violations of the arms embargo against Somalia.

Baja, who chairs the 751 Sanctions Committee on Somalia, said Resolution 1630 cites the need for the continued monitoring and tightening of the arms embargo against Somalia by calling on United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to reestablish the monitoring group for another six months to allow it to continue investigating activities that generate revenues used to commit arms embargo violations.

"The resolution also sends an important message for all Somali leaders to take tangible steps to begin political dialogue and reiterates the Council’s insistence that all member States, particularly those in the region, refrain from taking any action in contravention of the arms embargo," said the ambassador.

Baja has been cited by members of the council for his outstanding leadership in reviving a moribund committee through innovative changes. His strategy of involving the cooperation of neighboring states in implementing sanctions has been adopted by other committees of the Security Council.

Philippine Alternate Representative Patrick Chuasoto led the experts group meetings that discussed and negotiated the Philippine draft resolution.

In its most recent report to the Council, the monitoring group said there had been a sustained and dramatic upswing in arms embargo violations for the past six months, showing the highly aggravated political tension between the transitional federal government and the opposition and worsening the threat of widespread violence in central and southern Somalia.

The resolution mandates the monitoring group to continue refining and updating information on the draft list of individuals and groups that violate the embargo to institute possible measures by the Security Council. It also tasks the group to further investigate all activities in the financial and maritime sectors that raise money to buy weapons and how seaports, airports, and other transport facilities are being used to violate the arms ban.

The monitoring group was also asked to work with the 751 Committee to come up with specific recommendations for additional measures to improve overall compliance with the arms embargo.

It was required to provide the Security Council, through the 751 Committee, a mid-term briefing within 90 days of its establishment and a final report 15 days before the end of its mandate.