Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Blood diamond controls increase

|
|
 
  
Published: Nov. 9, 2007 at 11:23 AM

BRUSSELS, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Officials from 73 countries Thursday agreed to step up controls on conflict diamonds from Africa's Ivory Coast, South Africa's Inter Press Service reported.

The Kimberley Process, a 73-nation consortium, ended its annual conference in Brussels by calling for enhanced efforts to restrict diamond exports from Ivory Coast, where diamond sales may fund warring factions, Inter Press said. Participants agreed to focus on diamond trade flowing through neighboring countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso, the news service said.

Despite an embargo on Ivory Coast diamonds, Belgian officials recently confiscated $21 million worth of the gems. Conflict or "blood" diamonds generated billions in funds for civil wars in Liberia, Angola and Sierra Leone in the 1990s, leading to the creation of the Kimberley Process and regulatory control.

Recommended Stories
© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Syrian protests continue
View Caption
fark
Despite having a court order against her, man interrupts domestic battery case against his girlfriend...
Empire State building IPO issued. Subby also has a bridge to sell you as well
Reverend Sun Myung Moon cedes mass wedding business to Morning Zoo dj's, let's see if anybody notices...
"No, your honor. It's just a social club. That hangs out in the woods. With high powered rifles....
New SI swimsuit cover girl is Republican congressman's niece
Can't sleep. Must eat Pope in woods. And wear his hat. Or something