GUINEA FIRST COUNTRY NOT IN CONFLICT TO ADOPT CERTIFICATION SCHEME
HRD TO GIVE TECHNICAL ASSITANCE TO BUREAU NATIONAL D’EXPERTISE
Conakry, 2 May 2001 – The Republic of Guinea will certify its diamond production and create full transparency on its exports. Minister of Mines and Geology Ibrahima SOUMAH and HRD Managing Director Peter MEEUS signed today an agreement for technical assistance in that regard.
The certification regime of Guinea is similar to that of Sierra Leone, containing a certificate of origin, and import confirmation document and a security slip.
HRD is to install the system for electronic data transmission in Conakry that allows sending all data, together with digital photographs of the goods prior to physical shipment to the country of destination.
This creates full transparency between exporting and importing country.
Guinea has a strong own diamond production that provides jobs and revenues for many workers and for the Government. That production is to be protected.
Because of its geographical position, having frontiers with Sierra Leone and Liberia, there is a risk that diamonds originating from neighbouring countries are mixed with the domestic production. There are no indications though this would be the case today.
The certification scheme is to prevent this to happen in the future and thereby to protect the regular and legitimate production that is a tool for revenues and welfare.
"The decision of the Government of Guinea is a new important step in the fight against conflict diamonds. With certification schemes in place in Angola, Sierra Leone and very soon the D.R. of Congo and an embargo against Liberia, it becomes more difficult every day for rebels in conflict areas to commercialise diamonds on the international markets." said HRD’s Peter MEEUS.
"We have to prevent rebels to find new channels to curb international embargoes. Guinea is the next door that closes for them. It is a strong signal from the Government it wants to anticipate to a potential danger." concludes MEEUS.