(Rapaport…May 28, 2002) Rep. Tony Hall (D-Ohio) and other members of Congress have introduced a nonbinding resolution that calls on the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on diamonds mined by in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that have not been certified by the government as conflict free. The UN currently embargoes all diamonds mined in Liberia and diamonds mined by rebels in Sierra Leone and Angola.
Management for the World Diamond Council (WDC) and Jewelers of America (JA) announced their support of the resolution.
“We support Congressman Hall’s resolution, because it addresses a remaining leak point in the supply chain for rough diamonds,” said Eli Izhakoff, chairman and CEO of the WDC. “Until the provisions of the Kimberley Process agreement and its companion system of warranties have been fully implemented, sanctions on rough diamonds from the DRC that have not been certified as to their origin would serve a very useful purpose.”