Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana has been selected as the host of the Kimberley Process Permanent Secretariat.
The announcement follows the end of the meeting of the global diamond industry watchdog in Gaborone last Saturday.
Austria and China, two countries that do not mine the precious stones, were also bidding to house the secretariat.
After four years of canvassing, Botswana has been chosen as the host for the permanent secretariat of the Kimberley Process – which is an international initiative by government, civil society groups and industry to discourage the flow of conflict diamonds used to rebel groups and civil wars, especially in Africa.
According to a final communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the decision to establish the secretariat in Gaborone was taken following recommendations from technical experts.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi says this was the only logical decision given the southern African country’s diamond mining history.
“Diamonds are the mainstay of Botswana’s economy whose annual production today is by value, the highest in the world. The importance of diamonds to Botswana’s development agenda is therefore unquestionable, hence my country’s unwavering support to the Kimberley Process. Besides, I know of no country, other than Botswana that depends on diamonds as much as Botswana.”
Masisi says Botswana will push for the sustainable use of diamond resources across all 85 Kimberley Process member states.
“I firmly believe that having an established permanent secretariat will help us in this ambition. I can assure you that we are committed to work with all in the KP fraternity to ensure that the diamond industry is protected from infirmity.”
World Diamond Council president, Edward Asscher tells VOA, Botswana is a deserving host of the permanent secretariat.
“The country is a shining example that diamonds can contribute to the wellbeing of everybody involved and that financial results are contributing to the whole country and not just a few. This is very positive; it took four years to finalize the choice and, in the end, only Botswana got the full support of the KP during the Plenary in Botswana.
Meanwhile, after lengthy deliberations during the Kimberley Process Plenary in Gaborone, participants agreed to form an ad hoc committee to push for reforms within the organization.
Among others, the committee will look into redefining conflict diamonds as Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine has seen calls for reform within the Kimberley Process grow louder.
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