The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) meeting opened on Tuesday in Johannesburg to discuss "conflict diamonds."
Established in 2003 by United Nations General Assembly, the KPCS is the process to prevent "conflict diamonds" from entering the mainstream rough diamond market. The process was set up to ensure that diamond purchases were not financing violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments.
In the opening address, South African Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu said, "This year's plenary meeting holds more significance than ever, as the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on Reform will set the tone on how the KPCS ensues going forward."
"There has been robust engagement among ourselves over the past few years on these reforms, which made us introspect rather deeply about our founding objectives and the extent to which we have lived up to the this promise," she added.
The minster held the idea that Kimberley Process should complement the work by other international bodies regulating the sale of diamonds like the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices.
"The KPCS cannot be seen to be duplicating the works of other organization, especially those that complement the KPCS, namely the System of Warranties developed by the World Diamond Council (WDC) to extend the Kimberley Process conflict-free assurance to polished diamonds, and to provide a means by which consumers can be assured that their diamonds are from conflict-free sources," she told participants of the three-day session.
Shabangu also encouraged the Kimberley Process Certification to work with the African Union to ensure that there is transparent and equitable exploitation of natural resources, saying that Africa which contributes to the world with natural resources should benefit from these.
KPCS Chairperson Welile Nhlapho encouraged all stalk holders to work together to find solutions to the blood diamonds. He said the plenary should strive to make the organization effective and reliable.
"We should work towards reducing trade in conflict diamonds and develop ways in which they improve the lives that depend on them. We should intensify reform to make Kimberley Process reliable and effectiv," said Nhlapho.
China will assume the chair of Kimberley process Certification Scheme with effect from Jan. 1, 2014.
Source: Xinhua
