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Sun, 09 Nov 2014 13:20 - Updated Sun, 09 Nov 2014 13:19
Angola takes over presidency of Kimberley Process

Guangzhou - Angola will take over the presidency of the Kimberley Process on November 14, 2014, in the Chinese city of Guangzhou in the plenary meeting of the organization.

The Minister of Geology and Mines, Francisco Queiroz and the Angolan ambassador to China, João Bernardo, will attend the act where Angola will be represented by a delegation of more than 60 elements.
For the first time in the history of the organization the country holding the Presidency participates in a plenary meeting with a large delegation. The fact arises from the importance attached to the presidency of Angola to this organization and positioning of the country in the world of diamonds.
Dubai and Australia will run for the position of Vice-president of the Kimberley Process.
China and the African countries on one hand support Dubai, while Europe, USA and Canada back up Australia.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is the process established in 2003 to prevent "conflict diamonds" from entering the mainstream rough diamond market by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 following recommendations in the Fowler Report.
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".
The effectiveness of the process has been brought into question by organizations such as Global Witness, which pulled out of the scheme on 5 December 2011, claiming it has failed in its purpose and does not provide markets with assurance that the diamonds are not conflict diamonds.