Negotiators from the Kimberley Process reached a deal with the Zimbabwe government that will let the country  export diamonds from the Marange region while agreeing to a strict regime of monitoring and supervision.

The deal was announced at the World Diamond Council meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia.

"I want to assure everyone that Zimbabwe means business," said the country's mining minister Obert Mpofu, who unexpectedly praised his critics in non-governmental organizations. "We will adhere, we will comply. We will not let you down."

Marange exports have been blocked since last November, after a KP monitoring mission found instances of non-compliance and human rights violations. In May, KP monitor Abbey Chikane said exports should resume, but the United States, Canada, Australia and a coalition of human rights groups blocked an export resumption and disputed the monitor's report, saying it failed to present a complete picture of the region.

The agreement was reached after two days of often heated negotiations, which broke down several times. One hour prior to the agreement, some negotiators believed a deal was dead. But now the mood among WDC attendees is jubilant, as many feared Zimbabwe would leave the KP and render it meaningless.

While exports will resume, the plan calls for several review missions to visit the region, and assess compliance with a work plan formulated last year.

By Staff reporter and agencies