EU seeks deal with Africa on diamond trade

Date: 23/11/00

EU FOREIGN ministers and their counterparts from the 14 member countries of the Southern African Development Community will try to agree ways of combating the illegal trafficking of diamonds when they meet in the Botswanan capital of Gabarone next week.

Representatives from the two blocs are also expected to agree a multi-million-euro package to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS in the region.

European Commission officials say ministers will focus on agreeing precise definitions of illicit and legitimate diamonds at the fourth meeting of the regional grouping, which begins next Wednesday (29 November). The UK and other EU countries are pushing for measures to stamp out the illegal trade in gems, which is used to fund warring armies, especially UNITA's rebel forces in Angola.

But attempts to clamp down on this have so far been hampered by resistance from southern African states such as Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, which fear that the legitimate production and export of diamonds could be affected.

At next week's meeting, the two sides are expected to agree a 7.6-million euro programme to tackle HIV and AIDS in the region. The disease has had a devastating effect in Southern Africa, with Botswana reporting the highest incidence rate in the world.

Union ministers will also urge the southern African Development Community (SADC) to keep up its efforts to boost regional integration. "In the case of many African countries, it can be a stepping stone in preparing for their integration into the world economy," said Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy in a speech on Africa last week.

The EU has welcomed the bloc's free-trade agreement, which came into force in September and will cut all tariffs in the bloc to zero by 2012.

EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from the 14 member countries of the Southern African Development Community will try to agree ways of combating the illegal trafficking of diamonds when they meet in Gabarone, Botswana on 29.11.00.