Cheers, Jeers For KP Decision on Zimbabwe Diamonds

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme's decision recently in Washington to give to dismiss international observers and give Zimbabwe the green light to export its rough diamonds abroad was met by applause in some quarters and by cynicism in others, All Africa reports cited by Israelidiamond.co.il.
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Police and Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton called the KP's decision "a positive step forward" that recognized Zimbabwe's progress towards full compliance with the body's regulations.
Partnership Africa Canada campaigner Alan Martin, however, criticized the KP decision for looking only at a narrow set of technical issues, and the European Union for long lacking the moral courage to take Zimbabwe's government to task.
The KP also admitted three countries as full members – Panama, Kazakhstan and Cambodia – and received representatives of Venezuela, who expressed a desire to rejoin the global diamond industry group in good standing, according to All Africa.