The European Union (EU) is ready to assist the Government of Zimbabwe in its efforts to restore the transparency of the sales of diamonds recovered in the country, the head of EU delegation in Harare Aldo Dell'Ariccia told Agence France Press.
"If the government of Zimbabwe contact us with this request, the EU could provide the necessary technical assistance to upgrade, improve and add instruments of state control and inspections," - diplomat said on his return from a trip to the mines in the area of Marange.
EU diplomats were the first members of foreign diplomatic missions have been visited Marange, where according to the allegations of non-governmental organizations, there have been numerous human rights violations. In particular, local people is forced by military to work in diamond mines.
It is these accusations have led to the prohibition of sales on the international market of diamonds from Marange, known as "blood diamonds". The ban was lifted in November 2011, but theft and gray diamond zone remain a headache for the government of Zimbabwe.
This year the African country expects to receive from the sale of diamonds $ 600 million (480 million euros), but in the first quarter the state treasury, according to the Ministry of Finance of Zimbabwe, received only about one-third of the projected income from sales of diamonds.
According to Zimbabwean authorities, diamond mining company Anjin (a joint venture between Zimbabwean military structures and the Chinese investors) did not pay the income from its operations in Marange. Director Anjin, for his part, assured the European diplomats that the $ 30 million was paid in royalties to the Government.
Zimbabwean authorities have organized a trip to the Marange for ambassadors of EU countries - Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain, joined by their counterparts from Australia and Canada.
Alex Shishlo, editor of the European Bureau Rough&Polished
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