Top producer Russia thwarts move to redefine 'conflict diamonds'

FILE PHOTO: A view shows polished colorless and yellow diamonds produced at "Diamonds of ALROSA" factory in Moscow, Russia April 30, 2021. Picture taken April 30, 2021. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva/File Photo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Russia, supported by Belarus, Central African Republic, Kyrgyzstan and Mali, has torpedoed a Western-backed proposal to discuss whether its diamonds are funding war ahead of an international conflict diamond meeting in Botswana, letters seen by Reuters show.

The rift in the Kimberley Process (KP), which certifies rough diamond exports, risks paralyzing the body which makes decisions by consensus.