Congo readmitted to Kimberley Process against blood diamonds

BRUSSELS – Congo joined the Kimberley Process against the trade in so-called conflict diamonds on Thursday after being expelled over three years ago, the programme’s chairman said at a conference in Brussels.

The international scheme, which was launched in 2003 and is known as the Kimberley Process after a diamond mining city in South Africa, aims to keep diamonds from financing wars via a certification initiative. The European Commission, which currently holds Kimberley’s rotating presidency, hosted some 300 officials from industry, government and non-governmental organisations this week for a stock-take of its progress.Congo, which was expelled in July 2004 for fraudulently exporting diamonds from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, was readmitted but only at the last minute, said Karel Kovanda, who chaired the meeting for the commission.”The process of reintegrating the Congo was not easy, it took a lot of time,” he told journalists.”It wasn’t finalised till early this morning (Thursday), when the Congo came with the last document or two.”Venezuela, which is often accused of ignoring the Kimberley Process’ rules, accepted to receive an inspection early next year but only after “delicate negotiations,” Kovanda said.Non-governmental organisation Global Witness called a month ago for Venezuela to be kicked out of Kimberley for not respecting its rules.An initiative was also launched to “address the cross-border movements of rough diamonds in the Ivory Coast” targetted by a UN arms and diamonds embargo, Kovanda said.He said the country needed to “re-establish appropriate internal control” if it wanted to join the Kimberley Process, which would only be possible “if and when the UN Security Council lift the sanctions.”Prior to Congo, Liberia and Turkey already joined the process, which now counts 47 member countries and the 27-nation European Union.Among non-members, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Mali, Mexico and Tunisia participated in the conference with the aim of joining.Bahrein, Cape Verde, Gabon, Swaziland and Zambia have also expressed interest in participating in the programme, which will be chaired next year by India and in 2009 by Namibia.Nampa-AFPThe European Commission, which currently holds Kimberley’s rotating presidency, hosted some 300 officials from industry, government and non-governmental organisations this week for a stock-take of its progress.Congo, which was expelled in July 2004 for fraudulently exporting diamonds from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, was readmitted but only at the last minute, said Karel Kovanda, who chaired the meeting for the commission.”The process of reintegrating the Congo was not easy, it took a lot of time,” he told journalists.”It wasn’t finalised till early this morning (Thursday), when the Congo came with the last document or two.”Venezuela, which is often accused of ignoring the Kimberley Process’ rules, accepted to receive an inspection early next year but only after “delicate negotiations,” Kovanda said.Non-governmental organisation Global Witness called a month ago for Venezuela to be kicked out of Kimberley for not respecting its rules.An initiative was also launched to “address the cross-border movements of rough diamonds in the Ivory Coast” targetted by a UN arms and diamonds embargo, Kovanda said.He said the country needed to “re-establish appropriate internal control” if it wanted to join the Kimberley Process, which would only be possible “if and when the UN Security Council lift the sanctions.”Prior to Congo, Liberia and Turkey already joined the process, which now counts 47 member countries and the 27-nation European Union.Among non-members, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Mali, Mexico and Tunisia participated in the conference with the aim of joining.Bahrein, Cape Verde, Gabon, Swaziland and Zambia have also expressed interest in participating in the programme, which will be chaired next year by India and in 2009 by Namibia.Nampa-AFP