KP Plenary Meeting Starts in Washington, Reforms Under Discussion

This last Tuesday The Kimberley Process Plenary Meeting kicked off in Washington DC. The meeting takes place from 27 till 30 November, 2012.
Current KP Chair, Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic encouraged delegates attending the meeting to focus more on the proposed reforms which include the adoption of new guidelines for implementation and enforcement, measures to enhance alluvial and artisanal diamond production, the setting up of an Administrative Support Mechanism (ASM) as well as redefinition of the term "conflict diamonds," zbc.co.zw reported.
“The KP's actions affect the livelihoods of millions of people around the world,” Milovanovic said. “We need to do everything in our power to keep the KP relevant and effective so that ‘diamond’ remains synonymous with love and commitment”.
Eli Izhakoff, the Chairman of World Diamond Council, noted: “The Kimberley Process Ad Hoc Committee on Enforcement, which will deal with issues relating to the enforcement of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, is a body whose formation we also strongly support. We believe that it, too, demonstrates the firm commitment of this organization to pursue its objectives, which is to render the diamond pipeline, from mine to market, free of conflict diamonds.”
He added that they proposed taking responsibility for the management of permanent Administrative Support Mechanism, or ASM, which will provide logistic, organizational and communications support to the KP on an ongoing basis. WDC would do so with the collaboration of four of our members, which include the Gem and Jewelry Export Promotion Council of India, the Israel Diamond Institute, the Antwerp World Diamond Center and the Diamond House of the Government of Ghana.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Ms Susan Shabangu warned delegates on the dangers of over-regulating the diamond industry. She said deliberations by the participants should not further burden diamond trading with more duplicating requirements.
As of August 2012, the KP has 51 participants representing 77 countries. (The European Union and its member states count as a single participant.) Nearly all of the global production of rough diamonds comes from KP members.

Olga Patseva, Editor in Chief of the American Bureau, Rough&Polished