U.N. Council fails to agree on Sierra Leone diamond ban

UNITED NATIONS, JULY 1. The Security Council has failed to agree on a resolution to impose a ban on Sierra Leone diamonds with members divided over whether to set a time limit on the ban and to name Liberia as a transit point for the illicit trade.

The Council also postponed a vote on the resolution until Wednesday.

The major stumbling block was differences over whether there should be a time limit for the ban or it should be indefinite. While the United States and Britain would like the ban to be indefinite, some members proposed a 12-month and some others an 18-month time limit.

Diplomats say there was also pressure to delay the vote at least till Monday to ensure the release of 222 Indian peacekeepers and 11 observers who are surrounded by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) fighters in the Kailahun area since early May.

The resolution, drafted by Britain, seeks to impose ban on all sales of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone as also sale of arms to the rebels. The ban, it says, will remain in force until Sierra Leone government can set up a proper certification system and takes control of the mines.

The rebels at present control diamond mines and diplomats say despite the embargo, it would be impossible to stop the sale of diamond completely.

The Council is also split over whether to name Liberia as one of the countries currently trading diamonds with the rebels.

The dispute revolves around whether the Liberian President, Mr. Charles Taylor, should be specifically mentioned as conduit for the illegal sale of diamonds by the RUF as he is the main contact with the rebels.

The U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan's special envoy in Sierra Leone, Mr. Oluyemi Adeniji, too, during the briefing to the Council members yesterday opposed specific mention of Mr. Taylor saying it could complicate matters.

The British draft asks the Secretary-General to name a panel of experts for an initial period of four months to report to the Council's sanctions committee. It also wants hearing within a year on the role of diamonds in the Sierra Leone conflict.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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