April 22, 1999
Belgian Foreign Minister, Erik Derycke, called on the European Union on March 1 to look into the problem of diamond sales by certain African countries to raise money for weapons. While admitting that Belgium itself should set an example in view of its important diamond market Derycke said the United Kingdom and South Africa were "just as concerned" as his country.
Following this appeal, Angola's mines and geology minister, Manuel Bunge, met with the Belgian ambassador in Luanda on March 4 to ask that Belgian provide "technical mining assistance, "especially in controlling the embargo. ·
Unita's rep in the Benelux countries, Azevedo Kanganje, denied accusations that De Beers had helped Unita fund its war effort, "That's wrong, and if you look at the past you'll see De Beers has always cultivated relations with the Luanda government ever since it has been in power, even during the apartheid period. Those allegations appear to me to stem from internal intrigues in the diamond world. At one point De Beers wanted to get involved in politics. They had concessions that they had bought, but which lay in an area controlled by UNITA. De Beers sought to join a political campaign against UNITA but we told them to back away. I think they have calmed down a bit since then. (Source: Africa Energy and Mining 20/01/99)
Of interest will be the mission by Robert Fowler. His report to the UNSC in February had some interesting additions to the SG's report. He wished for the UNSC to consider making sanctions busting a criminal offence!
On April 1, The ACP-EU Joint Assembly, voted in a resolution which called for "a thorough investigation by the EC into the conduct of the diamond trade with a view to eliminating smuggling by Savimbi to fund his war effort"
