NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY LAUDS DE BEERS POLICY CHANGE ON ANGOLA
October 7, 1999 (12:30 p.m. EDT) No. 218
AXWORTHY LAUDS DE BEERS POLICY CHANGE ON ANGOLA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today applauded the decision by De Beers to place an embargo on the
purchase of all diamonds from Angola by its buying offices around the world. One exception to the embargo --
a contractual obligation on the part of De Beers to purchase the production emanating from a joint venture
between the Angolan government and an Australian mining company -- is not expected to have any bearing on
the sanctions regime.
De Beers, a dominant diamond mining and marketing company, has undertaken this action in support of UN
measures intended to deny sources of funding to UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of
Angola), which has been waging a war of insurgency for more than 30 years.
"I am very pleased with this policy announcement by De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited. Canada, as Chair
of the UN Security Council Angola Sanctions Committee, is seeking to bring about adherence to UN sanctions
against UNITA in order to create the conditions for a resumption of negotiations," said Minister Axworthy. "Co-operative efforts such as this one, when carried through, will have a significant impact on making the UN
sanctions effective. I hope that others in the diamond industry will follow the lead of De Beers in offering
support to the work of the Sanctions Committee."
Canada's Permanent Representative to the UN, Robert Fowler, has undertaken visits to Central and Southern
Africa and Europe to increase awareness of, and compliance with, the sanctions regime. Under Canada's
chairmanship, the Sanctions Committee has also established two expert panels at the UN to collect information
on the sources and methods of violations of sanctions regimes, and to recommend measures both to end those
violations and to improve the implementation of sanctions.
"The implementation of sanctions is the raison d'être of the Sanctions Committee. It is Canada's aim to develop
tougher measures to constrain the trade in arms, diamonds and other resources, thereby making it more
difficult for UNITA to wage war," added Minister Axworthy. "It is time to tackle the new war economy, where a
direct relationship exists between certain illicit businesses, corrupt officials, mercenaries and warlords. In
Angola, that relationship perpetuates misery, conflict and the victimization of innocent people."
De Beers reaffirmed its commitment to co-operate with the UN Security Council Angola Sanctions Committee.
The UN sanctions against UNITA are intended to foster the conditions for a resumption of political dialogue that
would lead to a durable resolution to the conflict in Angola; one of the longest-running conflicts in the world,
with more than one million people killed and many more displaced.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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