Brussels Meeting Attempts to Find Resolution to KP Zimbabwe Impasse

(IDEX Online News) - Kimberley Process (KP) members will gather in Brussels Tuesday to try reach an agreement over Zimbabwe’s rough diamond exports from the Marange region of the country.

At the Plenary Meeting in Jerusalem earlier this month, representatives from the diamond industry and a number of member countries tried to find a mutually agreed solution. U.S. and Zimbabwe have drafted terms for allowing Zimbabwe to resume full exports. However, Canada and Australia opposed it.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe took advantage of a loophole in the KP monitor’s work guidelines and invited him to the country to certify its rough diamonds. Subsequently some $160 million worth of goods were exported, further complicating the talks.

Marange, Zimbabwe Photo: Google Earth