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MINISTERIAL AGREEMENTS OF THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS WHICH WAS HELD IN BOTSWANA
The Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, chaired the Ministerial Session of the Kimberley Process held in Gaborone, Botswana, on Thursday, 29 November 2001. The meeting was attended by Ministers and representatives of the world's leading diamond exporting, processing, importing states, the World Diamond Council (WDC) and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
The Ministerial meeting follows a series of technical meetings aimed at developing detailed proposals for a simple and workable international certification scheme for rough diamonds. The meeting agreed on the following:
* The nature of the Kimberley Process Certificate
* Internal controls to support the certification scheme
* Rules governing international trade and
* Sharing of information on the trade in rough diamonds by states.
Industry has also undertaken to put in place a chain of warranties that would ensure the traceability of the diamonds.
The process is to be established through an international understanding as soon as possible. Those countries in a position to implement the Kimberley Process Certificate should do so immediately. It is the intention of the participants to start the full implementation of the participants to start the full implementation simultaneously by the end of 2002.
The Kimberley Process was initiated by African Ministers after NGOs, supported by some governments were planning to embark on a campaign aimed at sensitising the consumers on conflict diamonds which could have led to a boycott of African based process that would continue the fight against blood diamonds through specific target interventions that would ensure that the legal trade was not threatened.
"Sierra Leone is a good example of the results of implementation of the certification scheme in the development of the country's economy and prevention of the loss of lives", said the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. "In South Africa we have started amending our legislation to cater for the Kimberley process requirements."
After the endorsement of 56th UNGA session a follow up meeting will take place in Canada and later in Switzerland to take the process forward.
Enquiries: Mr Kanyo Gqulu at 012 317 9086, 083 293 3377
E-mail: yonelas@mepta.pwv.gov.za
Issued by Ministry of Minerals and Energy
30 November 2001