Pretoria – Mineral and Resources Minister Susan Shabangu says a review of the Kimberly Process organisation’s functions will put a dent on trade in conflict diamonds.
Speaking at the opening of the four-day Kimberly Process (KP) inter-sessional meeting on Tuesday, Shabangu called on the 54-member states of the Kimberly Process to consider proposals that have been made on the organisation’s policy reforms and structural changes.
The Kimberley Process was launched in May 2002 after the Southern African diamond-producing states met in Kimberley to discuss ways to stop the trade in conflict diamonds and ensure that diamond purchases were not financing coup de tats.
“The road we travelled was torturous and difficult, and at times hopes were fading in search of solutions to avert the imminent disaster. We all remained indefectible in our hope to reach our destination to redeem this rare and valuable commodity from being used as an instrument of maiming of innocent people, undermining legitimate governments and the overthrow of sovereign States to be a source of growth and economic development particularly at the areas where diamonds are mined.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the moment has finally arrived for the KP to sharpen its efficacies. It is against this background that the KP is conducting a review of its processes and functions. It is for this reason that my government is fully behind the KP proposed reform initiatives,” she said.
Shabangu said ever since its launch 10 years ago, a lot of progress has been made to curb the trade of conflict diamonds, and added that 99% of diamonds that are traded globally were now conflict free.
She said the industry should aim to increase its membership and set a target to have no trade of conflict diamonds.
“Our main objective as a collective is to encourage and drive the increase in membership figures for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, rather than institute punitive measures where a different approach could achieve similar outcomes.
“[It must] further assist those who need time to put their houses in order and subsequently be permitted to trade their diamonds once it is established that they are fully compliant with the KP minimum requirements,” Shabangu said.
The meeting is scheduled to run for four days until 7 June. – SAnews.gov.za
