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President Signs "Clean Diamond Trade Act"

(Excludes "conflict diamonds" from international trade) (130)
President Bush has signed the "Clean Diamond Trade Act," which
implements steps to exclude so-called "conflict diamonds" from
international trade while promoting the legitimate diamond trade, the
White House announced on April 25.
The United States has strongly supported the multinational "Kimberley
Process" of the past two years to curb the trade in conflict diamonds,
the White House noted. These diamonds have been used to fund rebel
groups that have attacked African governments as well as commit
atrocities against civilian populations.
"Diamonds also are critical to the economic growth and development of
African and other countries, so preserving their legitimate trade is
an important foreign policy objective," the White House said.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)