Canada urges Zimbabwe to comply with trade rules

The Kimberley Process, named for a South African mining town, was created in 2003 with the aim of curbing the flow of "blood diamonds".

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon on Monday urged Zimbabwe to quickly implement a proposal to bring it back into compliance with international diamond production standards.

The work plan was endorsed by the Kimberley Process assembly at a meeting last week in Namibia, giving Zimbabwe until June 2010 to rectify alleged human rights abuses by its army against civilians at its Marange diamond fields.

- The success of the work plan rests squarely on the government of Zimbabwe, and I urge the government to implement it fully and without delay - Cannon said in a statement.

The Kimberley Process, named for a South African mining town, was created in 2003 with the aim of curbing the flow of "blood diamonds" into the mainstream market.

About 70 diamond-producing countries, including Canada, as well as industry groups and civil society organizations form part of the Kimberley Process, which is meant to stop diamond sales from benefitting armed groups.

Civil society groups which are part of the process have demanded the suspension of Zimbabwe's international diamond trade over the alleged human rights abuses at its gem fields.