(Rapaport…March 20, 2006) Brazil’s ambassador (to the United Kingdom,) Jose Mauricio Bustani, told the Financial Times that “the ministry of mines and energy of Brazil is carrying out new inspections in all the mining areas for which Kimberley Process Certificates have been granted, including those mentioned in the recent report by Partnership Africa Canada (PAC.)”
On March 10, 2006, PAC released its report on Brazil, claiming roughly half of diamond exports were not accounted for, and therefore, Brazil should be suspended from the Kimberley Process. Read the summary
Bustani rejected PAC’s claims and said the Kimberley Process “allows the government to act against possible frauds. Furthermore, the Brazilian government goes beyond the requirements of the Kimberley Process by granting certificates only when there is documented proof that the diamonds in question have been extracted from authorized sites.”