Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUDHABI1463
2008-12-30 09:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE RESPONSE TO ILLICIT DIAMOND ACTIVITY IN ZIMBABWE

Tags:  PREL ETRD ECON EFIN ASEC ZI AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAD #1463 3650930
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300930Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1941
INFO RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0004
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0006
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001463 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, AF/S (WALCH, MARBURG) AND EEB/MTA (SARNIO)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD ECON EFIN ASEC ZI AE
SUBJECT: UAE RESPONSE TO ILLICIT DIAMOND ACTIVITY IN ZIMBABWE

REF: STATE 126054

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001463

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, AF/S (WALCH, MARBURG) AND EEB/MTA (SARNIO)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD ECON EFIN ASEC ZI AE
SUBJECT: UAE RESPONSE TO ILLICIT DIAMOND ACTIVITY IN ZIMBABWE

REF: STATE 126054


1. (U) This is a joint Embassy Abu Dhabi - Consulate General Dubai
cable.


2. (SBU) On December 1, post delivered reftel talking points via
diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Post also passed
the points to Ali Fayel, the Ministry of Economy's point-of-contact
on the Kimberley Process (KP). On December 23, Fayel told EconOff
that he had passed the information to the UAE's KP office and was
still awaiting an official response. Fayel said that a team visited
the UAE from Zimbabwe to examine the smuggled diamonds seized by
Dubai Customs in October 2008, but that he understood Customs had
been unable to schedule the examination during the visit. Fayel said
he was in the process of following up with UAE KP officials and would
provide more details in the new year. Post will report further
information when available.


3. (SBU) On December 15, Dubai PolEconOff passed reftel points to
David Rutledge (CEO Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)) and Youri
Steverlynck (CEO, Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE)). Rutledge commented
that the certifying countries should be held accountable for KP
violations, not countries, like the UAE, who do not certify diamonds.
Rutledge and Steverlynck stated the DMCC would put out a notice to
traders alerting them to the possibility of illicit Zimbabwean
diamonds and forged paperwork. Steverlynck noted he had just
received a packet from the KP working group on specifications helpful
in identifying illegal Zimbabwean diamonds. Rutledge and Steverlynck
also expressed concern about protecting the DDE's reputation and
expressed willingness to work with EEB/MTA Sue Saarnio and the KP
working group on the issue.
GREENE