§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the Diamond High Council in Antwerp. [122705]
§ Mr. HainMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the issue of conflict diamonds with his Belgian counterpart in January. Officials are also in contact with the Belgian Government and the Diamond High Council on this issue. We welcome the participation of the Diamond High Council in the recent Kimberley Technical Forum on conflict diamonds which aimed to identify measures to curb the trade in conflict diamonds. The Foreign Secretary will be pressing strongly for support for such action, including the possibility of a global certification scheme for rough diamonds, at a meeting of G8 Foreign Ministers in July.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent UN report on the diamond trade in Sierra Leone. [122704]
§ Mr. HainWe are not aware of any recent UN report on the diamond trade in Sierra Leone. We are however deeply concerned about the contribution of the illicit diamond trade to the conflict in Sierra Leone. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will be pressing strongly for G8 support for action on diamonds, including the possibility of a global certification scheme for rough diamonds, at a meeting of G8 Foreign Ministers in July.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with De Beers diamond company; and if De Beers have indicated the changes to their internal structures which they have made to ensure compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1173. [122703]
§ Mr. HainI met with De Beers in January this year and emphasised the need for the diamond industry to respond with specific measures to concerns over the trade in illicit diamonds which fuel conflict. We welcome De Beers' commitment to operate in strict compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1173 (1998), including through a guarantee that they will not trade in diamonds which come from any area in Africa controlled by forces rebelling against the legitimate and internationally recognised Government of the relevant country.
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§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in persuading the United Nations Security Council to amend resolution 1173 to require all diamonds to carry a certificate of origin. [122706]
§ Mr. HainUnited Nations Security Council resolution 1173 (1998) deals specifically with Angola and is therefore not an appropriate means through which to pursue action to control the wider international trade in illicit diamonds. The Foreign Secretary will be pressing strongly for G8 support for action on diamonds, including the possibility of a global certification scheme for rough diamonds, at a meeting of G8 Foreign Ministers in July.