(Rapaport…June 29, 2000) A document to restrain the sale of conflict diamonds was drafted during a meeting in Angola where officials from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, U.S., De Beers and Lazare Kaplan International, were in attendance.
The proposal states, “diamond producing, processing and consuming nations of the world and all segments of the industry recognize the need to curb, without burdening the sale of legitimate diamonds, the sale of illicit diamonds to finance rebellion in certain states.”
According to the document, sealed containers that include a certificate stating the country of origin should become standard practice when importing countries accept rough diamonds. Another stipulation is that the certificate is to list the number of diamonds larger than 2.2 carats.
The agreement states that laws should be constructed to, “punish any person found after due process of law to have knowingly traded, transported or processed illicit diamonds.”
Ministers from the participating countries are expected to approve the agreement in September.