KIMBERLEY PROCESS REACHES AN AGREEMENT ON CONTROL SYSTEM

IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CONFLICT DIAMONDS

US Congress AT THE SAME TIME ACCEPTS Clean Diamonds Act

 Gaborone (Botswana), 29 November 2001 - Today in Gaborone, delegates from more than thirty governments, including Belgium and the EU, reached an agreement on an international certification system for rough diamonds.  At the same time, the US Congress passed a law that limits diamond importation to countries with a control system for rough diamond.

The working group, better known as the Kimberley Process, will present its proposal to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Then, the member states simultaneously have to implement the system in national rules. 

Essential elements of the control system are the introduction of a certificate of origin, of independent control and of selfregulation by the industry and transparence by the publication of im- and export statistics.

After the meeting, the ministers declared: « We recognise the important initiatives that were taken already, in particular by the governments of Angola, the D.R. Congo, Guinee and Sierra Lenone and by other countries that play a key role in the diamond export and import. We also welcome the important contribution by the diamond sector itself, especially by the World Diamond Council and the NGOs. »

« We are particularly satisfied with the agreement. Only an international approach, relying on imposed controls in all countries involved, can keep conflict diamonds permanently of the market. » says Peter Meeus, Managing Director of HRD. « The international system on the one hand resumes the certificate regimes that HRD already installed in four countries, and on the other hand, it is largely inspired on the existing and very strict Belgian control system for diamond im- and export. »

The American law that was passed today, anticipated the principles of the Kimberley Process. Diamond from countries where no control on the trade of rough is performed can, from now on, be denied at importation in the US. The legislative initiative is supported by the World Diamond Council and by the NGOs.

« This law is a driving force for a fast worldwide implementation of the system. With 50% the US is the most important consumption market for diamond and thus a necessary partner for each country that is related to the sector. Today is a milestone in the fight against conflict diamonds. » Meeus concludes.