No Consensus, No Clarity on Zimbabwe Exports

(IDEX Online News) – The Kimberley Process failed once again to reach a decision about the exports of rough diamonds from Zimbabwe's Marange region. The failure comes despite the willingness of key countries to reach a compromise.

World Diamond Council (WDC) President Eli Izhakoff told IDEX Online an agreement was not reached because the clock ran out. "The U.S., EU, Canada, Australia Israel and the NGOs were forthcoming and reasonable and a deal was close," he said. "However, there was no consensus."

Participants at the Kinshasa, DRC meetings blamed Zimbabwe for refusing a deal they would have wholeheartedly accepted just a few months ago.

KP Chair Mathieu Yamba was also criticized for his failure to bring the sides together.

"Hopefully reason will prevail and the Chair will seek the opinion of the stakeholders to make adjustments to his decision," Izhakoff said diplomatically.

The differing statements led to conflicting reports in the world press about the outcome of the meetings. As it stands, Zimbabwe can not export the Marange goods.

Yamba was under fire after making an administrative decision to allow the exports without the agreement of the KP members.

NGOs Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) walked out of the meeting in protest at KP's failure to address human rights.

Despite statements by the U.S. and NGOs that "mistakes were made," declarations made to express a willingness to reach a compromise, for some the good will gesture was not enough.

"Politics on all sides should be kept to a minimum," Izhakoff said in this context.