Posted on 11/15/2005 7:21:02 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Diamond-producing countries and the diamond industry agreed yesterday to take unprecedented measures to stop the smuggling of "conflict diamonds" from West Africa.
A resolution on Ivory Coast was unanimously approved at the Moscow plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process, the UN-backed international scheme to stop the illegal trading of gems.
Recognising that millions of dollars' worth of conflict diamonds were being smuggled out of the rebel-held areas of Ivory Coast, members of participating countries agreed to put in place practical measures to stop the flow.
"Intervention on the trade side will impose specific controls for diamonds in the whole West Africa region and will require significant effort and co-operation from all participants," Kim Eling, chairman of the scheme's working group on monitoring, told the FT.
"But it was an existential challenge for the KP: the credibility of the scheme must not be jeopardised. Exceptional situations call for exceptional measures."
According to the terms of the resolution, all diamond production from West Africa will be monitored and all exports from the region will be profiled.
"Diamond profiling means that more detailed information about the technical specifications of diamonds will have to be included in each shipment," says Mr Eling. "It makes it easier to detect anomalies and will send alarm bells ringing."
The Kimberley Process will co-operate with the UN to monitor diamond exports and to provide technical assistance to West African countries.
The resolution also urges all participating countriesto take legal action against any of their nationals suspected of dealing in smuggled diamonds.
Global Witness, the non-governmental organisation that earlier yesterday released a report criticising the Kimberley Process for "lack of action", welcomed the breakthrough. "This sort of action is long overdue and we hope the promises will be met," Alex Yearsley of Global Witness told the FT.
"This is the ultimate test case for the KP: if they get this conflict diamond situation right, they will be able to get everything right."
Illegal production in the northern, rebel-held areas of Ivory Coast is estimated to be up to 300,000 carats a year and to be highly organised, relying on several thous-and diggers working on a regular basis for a few large traders.
The Ivory Coast government is regarded as a "victim" as it has no control over the diamond-producing areas and it formally banned all exports of rough diamonds in November 2002.
According to Global Witness, Ivory Coast diamonds are being smuggled to Mali, which has applied to join the KP, and also to Guinea, which is a participant. "Ivory Coast is the first de facto live conflict diamond situation the KP has had to confront since it was created," says Mr Eling.
Vyacheslav Shtyrov, chairman of the Kimberley Process, last month sent a letter to all member countries and the diamond industry to alert them to the situation in Ivory Coast.
"Conflict diamonds" is the term De Beers invented for stones not sold through its monopoly. They tried, and failed, to guilt the public into not buying them, so now the gloves come off.
Right. Anyone who does not toe the DeBeers supply restrictions are "smugglers". And this article falls right in line. What nonsense.
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