Kimberley, South Africa: The Intersessional Meeting of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) for Rough Diamonds, under the Chair of South Africa, concluded its deliberations today under the theme ‘Ten years of stemming the flow of conflict diamonds.’
The landmark meeting held between 4 to 7 June 2013 at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley, South Africa, brought together representatives of Governments, the diamond industry and civil society to discuss ways of strengthening the effectiveness of the rough diamond certification scheme to ensure that diamond trade is not financing violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments.
The KPCS meeting was held on the tenth anniversary after its inception, in the very town where it was initiated and named after. At a commemoration event at the Tabernacle Church, which served as a venue for the original meeting of the KPCS, twenty-three individuals who had attended the very first meeting were honoured for the role they played in building the KPCS from its infancy to its current stature.
Speaking at the closing of the meeting, Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu said, “The Intersessional Meeting had a dual purpose. The first was to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of KPCS and the second to ensure that it continues to effectively fulfil the role for which it was created. The intersessional meeting acknowledged the significant impact that the KPCS has had in the last decade on the global trade in rough diamonds. It was recognised that the Scheme has, within its existing mandate, been successful in minimising the trade in what has come to be known as conflict diamonds. It has also had a significant developmental impact in improving the lives of people dependent of the trade in diamonds”.
During discussions, delegates reviewed the processes and functions of the Scheme to ensure that it remains relevant and credible in curbing the illegal flow of rough diamonds. The findings of Review Missions and Visits to ascertain compliance with the KPCS was considered including the possibility of further Review Missions to Cote d’Ivoire and the Central African Republic amongst others. Technical support for KPCS compliance as well as creating public awareness of its activities was also discussed.
Recommendations emanating from the Intersessional meeting will be considered at the Plenary meeting of the KPCS to be held later this year in South Africa.
List of veterans that were honoured at the Tabernacle Church
Males
1. Jacob Thomage
2. Mark Van Bockstael
3. Peter Meus
4. Beat Frei
5. Paula Mvika
6. Roland Vock
7. Metzger Fabienne
8. Igor Driesmans
9. Kennedy Hamatenya
10. Andrew Bone
11. Adv. Martin Mononela
12. Nick Jagger
13. Udi Sheintal
14. Mattheu Yamba
15. Alan Martin
16. Weizhang Liang
17. Samir Nahaas
18. Andrey Glinov
19. Sabyasachi Ray
20. Manne Dipico
Females
1. Cecilia Gardner
2. Thes Fatimata
3. Frieda Coosemans
