LONDON - Representatives of diamond-importing countries who met in London yesterday agreed to a seven-point crackdown on the sale of "blood diamonds" which bankroll wars across Africa.
At the first gathering of the diamond industry and Government officials, plans for a global certification scheme for rough diamonds were backed, as was a plan to attach warranties to all invoices stating that no "conflict diamonds" are included in any shipment.
The crackdown is based on proposals from the British Government, the international diamond giant De Beers and diamond-producing governments.
Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain, who hosted the meeting, said: "The problem of illicit diamonds fuelling wars in Africa is an urgent one. Working together we must find solutions, and find them fast.
"In the face of enormous suffering caused by the diamond-fuelled wars in Sierra Leone, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we have a duty to ensure that we are doing as much as we can."
Sierra Leone rebel leader Foday Sankoh funded his campaign with illegal diamonds. So did Jonas Savimbi, the leader of the Unita rebel group in Angola.
Yesterday's summit meeting brought together representatives from India, Israel, Belgium, the United States and Britain. Antwerp in Belgium is the world's largest diamond trading centre. Tel Aviv and Bombay are major importing centres.
Observers from Russia, a big diamond exporter, and Canada, which has opposed the trade in blood diamonds, also attended. Further talks are scheduled in Antwerp next month.
Stiff penalties will be placed on dealers violating the code and pressure will be put on banks and insurers used by the diamond trade to push for compliance.
The Antwerp-based Diamond High Council announced this week that it had entered into cooperation agreements with Angola and Sierra Leone. On Monday, Indian diamond importers said they would not buy stones from Africa's conflict zones.
This month, the Israeli Diamond Exchange said it would ban any member who knowingly traded in conflict diamonds. The London-based Central Selling Organisation of the world's largest diamond miner, De Beers, has called for concerted action and insists it has taken every step to ensure its own diamonds are clean.
- INDEPENDENT
Stamping out 'blood diamonds'
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