State Dept Ponders Zim Diamond Exports, Meets U.S. Diamond Leadership

(IDEX Online News) – The U.S. State Department is holding consultations about its stand on blocking Zimbabwe's export of rough diamonds ahead of the Kimberley Process Plenary Meeting in November.

The U.S. has so far opposed diamond exports from Zimbabwe, part of a wider U.S. policy that attempts to end President Robert Mugabe's reign.

As part of the current consultations, members of the U.S. diamond industry were invited to Washington, D.C. to attend a meeting at the State Department to discuss the U.S. position ahead of the Plenary Meeting that will take place in Jerusalem, Israel, during the first four days of November.

The Wednesday meeting was chaired by Chairing the meeting Jose W. Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs. In this role, Fernandez is responsible for U.S. economic sanctions policy and the combating of terrorist financing.

In addition to the U.S. policy concerning rough diamond exports from Zimbabwe, prospects for reforming the structure and operation of the Kimberley Process forum were also discussed.

"Our position is steadfast. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is the most effective means available for preventing the infiltration of conflict diamonds into the legitimate chain of distribution, and it needs to be defended steadfastly," said Moshe Mosbacher, president of the Diamond Dealers Club of New York, following the meeting. "If this is done properly, consumer confidence in diamond jewelry will remain high, and revenues from rough diamond exports will serve to support the development of communities in the regions where diamonds are mined." 

According to Mosbacher, Assistant Secretary Fernandez is planning to attend the KP Plenary in Jerusalem, the highest level U.S representation at such an event since early days of the Process. "The degree to which the current U.S. administration is engaged in the KP is most evident," said Mosbacher.

In Addition to Fernandez and Mosbacher, in attendance were Deputy Assistant Secretaries of State Robert Cekuta from Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, Susan Page from African Affairs and Dan Baer from Democracy, Human Rights and Labor as well as representatives of civil society.