By Kylie M Tsudama
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NEW YORK, New York – The UN General Assembly on Friday was blasted for ignoring Zimbabwe’s disregard for international efforts to curb the trade of “blood diamonds.”

According to a UN resolution, the “trade in conflict diamonds continues to be a matter of serious concern.”  The United States, the EU, and a number of other Western delegations criticized the assembly for failing to mention concerns about Zimbabwe’s alleged violation of the Kimberley Process safeguards.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was set up in 2003 following civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.  Those wars were primarily funded by the diamond trade.  It imposes strict requirements on rough diamond shipments to certify them as “conflict-free.”

Zimbabwe’s UN Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku said that Harare is “committed to the Kimberley Process,” and rejected the notion that they were out of compliance.  He believes that the United States and other Western countries are trying to politicize the issue by criticizing his country.

According to Namibia’s report to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, however, there were “credible indications of significant non-compliance with the minimum requirements of the [Kimberley Process] by Zimbabwe.”

Namibia, the current chair of the Kimberley Process, warned that blood diamonds could be making a comeback, noting that internet sales and postal shipments have “proved it difficult to track and reconcile rough diamond shipments.”

Israel will take over Namibia’s post as chair of the Kimberley Process in January.

Syria, Israel’s enemy, fought to keep Israel’s name from a key resolution.  Syrian Ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja’afari, said, “Israel exploits trafficking in diamonds in Africa and other countries in the world in order to fund transactions to sell arms and to promote internal troubles in certain countries, thereby involving children in armed conflict.”

Israel is one of the founders of the Kimberley Process and is a global trading center for rough diamonds.

Before the Kimberley Process about fifteen percent of the world market was made up of conflict stones.  Now they are believed to make up only one percent, although many diamonds are untraceable.

For more information, please see:

AP – Syria hits Israel ‘Conflict Diamond’ Leadership – 11 December 2009

Delaware Online – Blood Diamonds Are No One’s Best Friend – 11 December 2009

Relief Web – General Assembly Reaffirms Strong Support for Kimberley Process Certification Scheme Aimed at Ensuring Diamonds ‘Conflict Free’ – 11 December 2009

Reuters – Zimbabwe “Blood Diamonds” Dispute Breaks Out at U.N. – 11 December 2009

Vancouver Sun – UN Blood Diamond Session Goes Sideways Over Mention of Israel – 11 December 2009