RAPAPORT… During a U.S. State Department briefing held today, Philip Crowley, the assistant secretary of state for public affairs, said that the U.S. was disappointed that consensus was not reached on Zimbabwe during the recent Kimberley Process (KP) meeting in Tel Aviv.
“We look for Zimbabwe to make further progress implementing the necessary steps to bring the Marange diamond fields into compliance with KP minimum requirements,” Crowley said.
Additionally, Crowley stated that the U.S. State Department “strongly opposed” any attempts to export Marange diamonds before a consensus was reached.
“We look forward to continuing to engage with all KP members on this matter and welcome the chair’s efforts in this regard. It is important that Zimbabwe address the ongoing diamond smuggling and human rights violations in and around the Marange diamond fields,” Crowley said.
LH