35. Mr. Michael Jabez FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in stopping trading in diamonds which fuels conflict in Africa. [125241]
§ Mr. HainThe Government are committed to curbing the trade in diamonds which fuels conflict in Africa. We fully support UN Security Council resolution 1173 (1998) which prohibits the import from Angola of diamonds not controlled through the Angolan Government's Certificate of Origin regime. We have tabled a draft UN Security Council Resolution which would ban the import of uncertified diamonds from Sierra Leone.