Africa-Press – Angola. The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, defended this Monday, in Luanda, the alignment between natural diamond producing countries to improve the management and protection of natural diamonds.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting of the Ad-hoc Committee for Review and Reform of the Kimberley Process Certification System, he highlighted the need to better organize, from an environmental and management point of view, to reduce capital and operational costs, as well as better promote the natural diamond.
“In our specific case, we are adding value to natural diamonds, through their cutting and polishing. These are the measures we have to take and, in addition, continue to protect the natural diamond itself, with producing countries being more aligned,” he said.
Regarding the Ad-hoc Committee meeting, he said that it is taking place at a difficult time for the natural diamond industry and, also, in the face of some situations tending to promote synthetic diamonds.
“We need to be more aligned, all natural diamond producing countries and be able to defend our cause, in the face of this situation that is going on now”, he asserted.
Diamantino Azevedo says that there is a campaign to promote synthetic diamonds and discredit natural diamonds, so all diamond producers need to be aware and take measures to ensure that this does not have a negative impact.
“It’s not enough for us to just regret it, because synthetic diamonds are there. We have to take measures at all levels, both in environmental aspects, money laundering, illegal exploitation of natural diamonds and in the way we carry out mining activities”, he stressed.
He added that it was necessary to improve the way of management, diamond production and reducing costs, to adapt to the new situation.
On the occasion, Diamantino Azevedo reaffirmed the Government of Angola’s commitment to the United Nations certification mechanism for conflict prevention.
The meeting of the Ad-Hoc Committee for Review and Reform of the Kimberley Process Certification System will take place from 9 to 10 October, with representatives from member countries of the Kimberley Process, Industry and Civil Society.
In this event, participants are evaluating the proposals to be presented by those responsible for the working subgroups, as well as the balance of the activities carried out, during the first half of the current year, by the aforementioned subgroups.
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