Israel Matzav

Syria outvoted 90-6-18 at UN General Assembly

A Syrian effort to delete reference to Israel chairing United Nations efforts to fight 'blood diamonds' in 2010 has been defeated 90-6 with 18 abstentions in the UN General Assembly. The United States, Canada and Israel took the lead in bringing about the measure's defeat.

The Syrian objection came as the Assembly was poised to adopt a Namibia-sponsored resolution welcoming progress over the past year in efforts to cut the trade in "conflict diamonds," which have provoked some of Africa's most vicious civil wars and rebel movements.

Syria objected to a passing reference near the end of the six-page resolution that simply noted that nations involved in the Kimberley Process "selected Israel to chair" their efforts in 2010. The decision was made at an annual meeting in November in Namibia.

The Kimberley Process imposes stringent requirements on its 49 members to certify shipments of rough diamonds as "conflict-free." The group consists of states and regional economic organizations that trade in rough diamonds, representing 75 countries.

Israel is a global trading center for rough diamonds, and was among the founders of the Kimberley Process.

The "conflict diamond" issue attracted increased public awareness because of the 2006 Hollywood film "Blood Diamond," starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly, which showed how "conflict diamonds" financed civil war in Sierra Leone.

Now Ivory Coast is the main remaining offender under watch by the Kimberley Process.

Here's the trailer for the movie. Let's go to the videotape.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:29 PM