DATE=8/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SIERRA LEONE / DIAMONDS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265029
BYLINE=ALEXEY VOLYNETS
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: United Nations diplomats say they are
determined to take decisive steps to stop the illegal
diamond trade that is fueling the civil war in Sierra
Leone. VOA's Alexey Volynets reports from New York.
TEXT: The Sierra Leone Sanctions Committee of the U-N
Security Council ended two-days of hearings Tuesday on
the illegal sale of Sierra Leone diamonds that allow
rebels to purchase arms and ammunition.
Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, chairman of the Sierra Leone
Sanctions Committee, says current sanctions on the
sale of diamonds from the West African country should
be expanded.
/// CHOWDHURY ACT ///
We would like to expand the regime, we would
like to see it much more focused, we would like
to see it much more effectively established in
Sierra Leone.
/// END ACT ///
After the hearings, Mr. Chowdhury told reporters the
broader international community is now ready and
willing to participate in a diamond control or
certification process. The diamond industry presented
a nine-point action proposal during the hearing to
combat diamond smuggling. The government of Sierra
Leone also suggested a plan for diamond certification.
/// CHOWDHURY ACT ///
They made very effective presentations
identifying the details of such a certification
regime. And it was felt, apparently at least -
the Sanctions Committee, of course, will go deep
into it - that it (Sierra Leone) has tried to
propose fool-proof arrangements. It has tried to
bring up the areas which needed attention. And
it has tried to build up also on the areas in
which the Angola sanctions regime has not been
very effective.
/// END ACT ///
During the hearings, the United States and Great
Britain accused Liberia and Burkina Faso of helping
the rebels in Sierra Leone to trade diamonds for arms.
However, representatives of those countries denied the
allegations. The U-N sanctions committee is going to
further investigate the issue.
U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan at the request of the
Security Council has established an expert panel that
will look into details of the illegal arms and diamond
trade in West Africa and submit a report by the end of
October. However, Mr. Chowdhury says, Sierra Leone's
proposal for diamond certification requires an
immediate response. (Signed)
NEB/AKV/LSF/TVM/PT
1
2
01-Aug-2000 17:34 PM EDT (01-Aug-2000 2134 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
