Africa, Asia Reject KP Conflict Diamond Proposals

African and Asian members states of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme objected to two major proposals, effectively shutting them down: a proposal to expand the scope of the term "conflict diamonds" and a proposal to put the KPCS under the supervision of Western think tanks with military ties, AllAfrica.com reported cited by Israelidiamond.co.il.
At the intersessional meeting of the KP in Washington, D.C., U.S. representatives urged the organization to outsource its operations to one of the following groups: the Geneva Center for Democratic Control of the Armed Forces; the International Law and Policy Institute; or the Foley Hoag Corporate Social Responsibility Practice. Zimbabwe proposed the KP establish a full-time secretariat based in Zimbabwe itself, since it is the world's largest diamond producer.
An African delegate quoted by AllAfrica.com stated that the African nations rejected the proposal to expand the definition of conflict diamonds based on the results of a recent survey of KPCS members, which revealed that 75% of the group's members reject a proposed change to the global diamond industry policy.