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Bush signs conflict diamond Bill
26/04/2003 12:35 - (SA)
Washington - US President George W Bush on Friday signed into law a bill prohibiting the import into or export from the United States of so-called "conflict diamonds" that fuel insurgent groups in Africa.
"Conflict diamonds have been used by rebel groups in Africa to finance their atrocities committed on civilian populations" as well as to battle internationally recognised governments, Bush said in a statement.
The Clean Diamond Trade Act requires diamond dealers to keep records of all diamond shipments and make such records available to US law enforcement authorities.
"Conflict" or "blood" diamonds are mined in areas of conflict and help finance civil wars in countries such as Sierra Leone, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Under the system, all batches of imported uncut diamonds must be accompanied by a specially produced "unforgeable" document issued by national authorities, stating the country of origin of the diamonds.
The bill seeks to finalise the structure of the Kimberley Process, to oversee diamond trade between nations and individuals worldwide using certificates verifiable at government level.
Fifty-two countries last November announced that they had formally adopted the Kimberley Process, which was launched in South Africa in 2000 and is supported by the United Nations.
Forty-six countries said they would implement the scheme on January 1, 2003, and a further six countries pledged to set it up by the end of 2003. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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