CERTIFICATION OF CONGOLESE DIAMONDS BEGINS

Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) April 25, 2002 With effect from this week, all diamonds exported by the DR Congo will have to be certified by the Centre for Evaluation, Expert Analysis and Certification of Precious Minerals (CEEC). 

Launching the exercise in Kinshasa, the centre's director- general, Victor Kasongo Shomary said this will streamline the diamond sector and curb the marketing of "blood diamonds" as envisaged under the Kimberley process. 

Certification will also protect the vast legal diamond market at local and international levels for the benefit of customers. 

 "All those leaving the country with diamond consignments through illegal channels without a Kimberley international certificate will be identified and the relevant information transmitted to the authorities for adequate action", the CEEC's head warned. 

Kasongo said that heads of provincial CEEC units had been instructed to inform the management on the sources of diamonds by identifying diamond panners and traders in each producing centre. 

He explained that the CEEC would send electronic data and photos of diamond shipments to the Belgian ministry of economic affairs, which will confirm reception by e-mail. 

Meanwhile, Bockstael, a representative of the Diamond Council in Antwerp, Belgium, explained the measures and precautions that had been adopted to prevent the forgery of diamond certificates. 

On his part, the DRC's minister of mining Tumanaka Bawanganio stressed that diamond, as a symbol of love and affection, should not be used by rebels to buy weapons of war. 

The minister called on other diamond producing countries to introduce certificates of origin for the protection of the precious gem. 

The chairman of the Kimberley certification process, Chikane Abbaye commended the DRC for joining the certification system. He promised to co-operate with the CEEC to ensure the success of its activities.